The new owners of a former care home have moved to reassure neighbours who feared it would be turned into a ‘mega hostel’.
The Mount, in Tennyson Road, was sold by Luton Borough Council for £936,000 last year.
Alarm bells began ringing amongst nearby residents when an application to change the property to a bed and breakfast was lodged, with plans showing bathrooms being shared by up to 14 people.
But owners Tony and Angela Anacreonte, who have run businesses in Luton since the 1960s, say the building will become a straightforward family-run hotel, with an en-suite bathroom in every room.
The couple, who have recently moved back from Italy, will live there with their daughter and two grandchildren. Their son, Franco, owns the Icon Hotel in Hastings Street.
“The initial plan was to keep The Mount as a care home, but it just wasn’t feasible – the rooms were too small,” said Mr Anacreonte.
“We called it a bed and breakfast because we are going to be living there. To us, bed and breakfast means the same as hotel.”
The plans online had not shown the new layout of the building because they were only requesting a change of use, he said.
Mrs Anacreonte added: “It is actually really nice that residents are concerned as it shows they have a lot of pride in where they live.”
The accommodation will be a mixture of small doubles, standard doubles and suites, with target clientele being families and business travellers using the airport.
Extensive vandalism and theft while the property was empty means the family have had to spend the last two months clearing it before work could start.
Residents who contacted the Luton News were concerned the plans would equate to a large “house of multiple occupation” with short-term tenants, causing an increase in noise, litter and anti-social behaviour.
But Mr Anacreonte said: “We would like to reassure the neighbours that it is going to be a nice place.”