The Fownes Hotel is to convert conference and storage space into 20 extra bedrooms.

City planners this week gave permission for the work to go ahead.

The hotel, in Clare Street, is currently closed to the public and is known to have been housing asylum seekers.

But it is unclear if the planned work signals a return to the Fownes taking bookings from members of the public, if it is planning to house more asylum seekers or simply looking to the future.

Hotel representatives were unable to comment at the time of writing. A message on the Fownes’ website says: “The hotel is closed. Please do not make any booking.”

According to the plans, the work will be taking place in the top two floors of the hotel buildings at the back of the site, furthest from City Walls Road.

The space is currently used as a mix of staff bedrooms, storage and a former conference space.

“The proposal is to convert this area to 20 new guest bedrooms,” the plans say, “each with their own en suite shower and WC rooms.

“This will make more efficient use of the existing under-used hotel space and provide employment for 10 new hotel staff.”

The only external work will be the addition of two fire doors and a four-storey fire escape.

The plans say: “The proposal is a sensible expansion of the hotel’s guest accommodation, making use of currently underused areas on the site, without the need for further building expansion.”

Nowhere in the application, nor in the consultation responses, does it mention the hotel’s current use.

Worcestershire Highways said: “The requirement for the proposed 20 bedrooms is 20 spaces and this is likely to be less intensive than the existing uses which, for the conference space alone, would be one parking space per five seats.

“Furthermore, whilst the Fownes Hotel website states that the hotel is currently closed, there are stated to be 59 rooms and 75 parking spaces as existing within the hotel curtilage.”