One of Westbury’s historic hotels, the Grade 2-listed Lopes Arms, is to be converted into three residential homes.

The property in Market Place was put up for sale at a Strakers public auction in August last year with a guide price of £550,000 but was later withdrawn.

Now Lily Designs Ltd has started work on the refurbishment and conversion of the redundant hotel that has sat dormant for five years.

David Thorne, development director of the Hedge Hunter group, based in Avebury Trusloe, said: “We are very excited about it. It’s a gem of a building.”

The Hedge Hunter group gained planning permission last year from Wiltshire Council to convert the Lopes Arms and Mr Thorne said the council had been very helpful and proactive.

Most of the front façade will stay the same, but the entrances to the three properties will be at the rear of the building.

Mr Thorne added: “The scheme offers private gated parking and private gardens being designed with ecology encouragement at its foundation.

“We are delighted to of worked constructively with Wiltshire planning and conservation departments and hope to deliver a legacy development for Westbury town centre.”

The development, to be named The Hops, will be due for launch in spring 2023. 

The building was originally named after Sir Manasseh Massey Lopes who bought the manor and borough in 1810.