A FORMER hotel in Burnley has changed hands again after it was sold for £120,000 at auction.

The old Alexander Hotel, in Leven Street, was set to be turned into a home for youngsters with emotional and psychological problems earlier this year.

The scheme received planning permission but residents and councillors fought the plans and they were shelved.

Coun Jeff Sumner said the new owners were now looking at using the building either as a house, or for bedsits.

He said: “They have been in touch with the council’s planning department and have asked about using it as single occupancy or multiple occupancy.

“I think they have been told that single occupancy would not be a problem, but any application for multiple occupancy could face a problem because of parking concerns.

“As far as the residents are concerned, they would be happy to see it used as a large house, but they don’t want it turned into bedsits.

“With single occupancy you know who is living there, but with bed sits people are coming and going all the time and you don’t know what it is going to be used for.”

The former hotel has most recently been used as an American diner and international hostel.

It went under the hammer in Manchester earlier this month. The building has nine bedrooms, eight of which are en-suite.

Auctioneers Pugh and Co said that the building would be ideal for redevelopment to residential, a care home or student accommodation.

No plans have been submitted to Burnley Council so far.