A LAST-minute change could give the go-ahead to a controversial scheme to convert a riverside hotel into 14 flats.

City of York Council planning officers had initially recommended the plan to replace the Abbots Mews Hotel, in Marygate, York, with the apartments should be refused because basement apartments could be swamped by floodwater.

In a report to the City of York Council planning committee, development control officer Simon Glazier said the site was within Flood Zone 3, as defined on the Flood Zone map published by the Environment Agency (EA).

The building is therefore deemed to have a "high risk of flooding", he said.

Abbots Mews Hotels Ltd has applied to convert the 20-bedroom Victorian hotel into 14 flats, nine of which would consist of bedsit-style accommodation.

EA officials said the site's flood defences are inadequate, putting proposed living accommodation in the basement at risk.

But now the developers have responded to the EA's comments and taken out the two basement rooms from the plan, in favour of cycle and refuse storage.

Mr Glazier said, providing EA officials were in agreement, they would recommend approval for the scheme in view of the changes.

Planning officers have received several letters of opposition to the scheme from local residents, along with detailed objections from the St Mary's Conservation Group.

Many claim the plan would be an overdevelopment of the site, and add further strain to parking in the St Mary's area, which is already at "saturation point".

Another objector said: "The proposed alterations are unrelated to the surrounding architecture, environment and conservation area."

Mr Glazier said the overall impact of the development would be neutral, and the "character and appearance of the conservation area would be preserved".

He said, if approved, the flats would appeal to single people and young couples as a first step on the housing ladder.

Paul Spencer, managing director of Abbots Mews Hotels Ltd, said they had taken on board the EA's concerns and removed the basement rooms.

He said: "We've tried to be sympathetic to the requirements of the locals.

"The idea of the development is to help first-time buyers in York, because half of the properties will be under £100,000."

The matter will go before councillors tomorrow.

Updated: 11:44 Wednesday, March 01, 2006