A Southampton resident has labelled the decision to convert a historic city hotel into accommodation as “absolutely disgusting”.

Kathleen Kinchington, 69, from Freemantle slammed the decision by council chiefs to sign off the plans for the Dolphin Hotel.

The proposals involves converting the Grade II*-listed building into 99 student bedrooms.

The plans were approved despite attracting numerous objections from residents, councillors, tourism groups, resident groups and the Hampshire Branch of the Jane Austen Society.

The literary great was one of the famous guests in the hotel’s past, which reportedly also included Queen Victoria and Admiral Lord Nelson.

READ MORE: Decision made on plans to turn historic hotel into student flats

Reacting to the news, the 69-year-old - who was born and bred in the city - said: “I can’t believe it.

“It’s absolutely disgusting to turn this into a student accommodation.

“It’s not a student accommodation block; that building is part of our history and now they’re going to ruin it.”

She previously said that it was ‘disgusting’ that the application had even crossed the developer's minds.