A small hotel and B&B is set to be turned into five flats as it is the “only financially viable way forward”. Owners of the Rock House Hotel in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, took over in March 2015 and say they have struggled to match the prices of chain hotels such as the Premier Inn and Travelodge. Now, an application to turn the 15-bedroom building into flats has been submitted to Maidstone council. A planning statement on behalf of the applicants stated the change of use “won’t detract from the economy of the area” but would provide “much-needed permanent accommodation”. It went on to say its…