A historic hotel will be demolished to make way for almost 30 flats.

Developer Keay Homes will tear down the entire Long Island Exchange hotel in Victoria Close, Rickmansworth, and convert it into 27 flats and four houses.

The developer had been given permission to demolish part of the hotel and build 33 flats and four houses after a planning meeting in July last year.

But confusion then emerged as another application to demolish the whole hotel was submitted- only to be withdrawn this week.

The Watford Observer understands the council was informed of the decision to bulldoze the former hotel on Friday and Geof Muggeridge, director of community and environmental services at the council, said the developer would be using permission granted by a planning inspector after an appeal in November.

Mr Muggeridge said: “The developer of Long Island has implemented an appeal scheme which allows for the demolition of the entire building.

“The council has sought to retain the frontage [of the] building - however, this has been unsuccessful due to the appeal ruling.”

Planning inspector Phillip Ware, in his decision notice for the appeal in November, said: “Although the proposed demolition would result in the loss of a non-designated heritage asset, the significance of that asset has been seriously degraded over time and there is a clear and convincing justification for the loss of the building.

“The original late 19th Century buildings have suffered unsympathetic external and internal alterations over the years, as is accepted by the council and the balance is strongly in favour of the proposed scheme.

“For these reasons, the proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the area.”

Michael Stimpson, chairman of Rickmansworth District and Residents’ Association said he is “distraught” after hearing the news the building would be demolished.

He said: “The Victoria Hotel has been part of Rickmansworth for many many years.

“Demolishing this building will be taking a building away from Rickmansworth that should be there.

“It should be a hotel but that battle has been lost. The idea they are going to demolish this building is very sad.”

Another campaigner said: “When the appeal was first lodged and we were looking into it, it appeared that if the appeal is granted, there is not a lot we can do about it.

“Nine hundred signatures on the petition did not seem to count for something.”