Plans to permanently convert a controversial hotel into flats have been blocked by council officers.

The owners of NR19 in Dereham had sought permission to formally change the use of the rooms at the site, arguing some of them had effectively been used as flats for years.

The hotel, in the town's Market Place, is used by councils across Norfolk and Suffolk to provide temporary accommodation for vulnerable groups including the homeless and ex-offenders.

The site has prompted complaints from locals and councillors, who say it has led to a rise in antisocial complaints and have claimed Dereham is being used as a "dumping ground".

Tony Burlingham, the hotel's owner, said that it has a "long standing partnership" with local councils and has supported them in "meeting local housing and emergency accommodation needs".

An image of Mr Burlingham from 2007(Image: Archant)

He argued that the hotel had used some of its rooms as flats for as long as a decade.

The 1990 Town Planning Act states that a local planning authority cannot take enforcement action against unauthorised developments after 10 years from the date of the breach.

However Breckland officers argue the hotel has not provided enough evidence in its application to show that rooms have been used as flats for this long.

Despite the refusal, the council has said it will continue to use NR19 as a temporary accommodation outlet.

A Breckland spokesman said that the site had passed every necessary health and safety check.

NR19, in Dereham's Market Place(Image: Newsquest)

"Having invested in its own temporary accommodation over the last year, the council will always seek to use that provision in the first instance," said the spokesman.

"As a result, our use of private temporary accommodation (such as NR19) has reduced significantly over the last year.

"However, where necessary, the council will seek to use the best available private accommodation to meet customers' needs, and NR19 continues to be considered an appropriate building for the provision of temporary accommodation."

Controversial Norfolk hotel sees bid to convert rooms into flats thrown out