A MULTI-million pound facelift for Thornbury Castle has been given the green light.

Plans submitted last year would see the Tudor castle upgraded with new luxury facilities to cater for a larger number of guests – including 14 new rooms and a new restaurant, as well as a function room, indoor pool, spa and gym.

The proposals, which have been previously estimated to cost around £9million, outline a new and contemporary two-storey building within the castle grounds to house the new features, with plans to then relocate the car park past the outer wall and the vacant space being renovated into a new garden.

Planning consent was approved on Friday, subject to a series of time constraints and ecological and archaeological conditions.

A grade I listed building, the castle dates back to 1330, and has been run as a luxury hotel with 28 en-suite bedrooms and a popular award-winning restaurant, catering for many A-list celebrities including David Beckham, Ricky Gervais and Courtney Cox.

But despite its success, the castle, an iconic presence in the town, was put up for sale earlier this year by owners Luxury Family Hotels, in a deal which includes more than 15 acres of land.

It was originally believed that the building and its grounds would fetch £8.5million but with the planning permission now confirmed, it has been speculated that the owners could aim for more.

Nigel Chapman, CEO of Luxury Family Hotels said: “We are delighted that the planning consent has been granted as this ensures that Thornbury Castle will remain a sustainable, international luxury hotel business into the long term and with that the maintenance and repair of the historic structures is secure.

“Now that planning has been granted, steps will be made to commence this very exciting expansion which will offer a whole range of new spa, leisure and casual dining facilities to local residents as well as hotel guests.”

Luxury Family Hotels declined to comment on whether they would be completing the new development themselves or if it would be handed over to new buyers.