A woman who converted a £35,000 public toilet block into a stylish two-bedroom property is now selling the home for nearly ten times the original price.Louise Houston initially purchased the disused toilet block at an auction in Cheltenham in 2011 after noting it had potential to become a place she could stay while visiting family in the area.After spending £5,000 on legal and planning fees and between £45,000 and £50,000 on building costs, she managed to transform the former public loos into a stylish holiday home in the Gloucestershire town by 2019.She then went on to run the property as an Airbnb in the summer, charging around £120 a night, with the home proving popular with walkers, hikers and dog owners due to its countryside location.But now, she is selling the lavish build with offers around £300,000 - a significant increase on the £35,000 she originally paid.The finished home features two double bedrooms with their own bathrooms, a kitchen-dining area, a separate sitting room and a downstairs toilet.Louise, a letting agent from Cornwall, said: 'My children are all older now, they're more capable of coming down to visit me in Cornwall, so I just think now's the time.'It's sad, but it's run its course for me, so it's time for me to let it go to somebody else. It was my baby. I did it all myself. It was a real female project. Louise Houston initially purchased the disused toilet block at an auction in Cheltenham in 2011 after noting it had potential to be a place for her to stay when she was visiting her family Pictured: The original sale brochure of the toilet block Louise originally planned to create a simple bedsit for herself, but after speaking to planners, she realised the former toilet block could become a far greater project. Pictured now After spending £5,000 on legal and planning fees and between £45,000 and £50,000 on building costs, she managed to transform the former public looks into a stylish holiday home Now, she is selling the lavish property with offers around £300,000 - a significant increase on the £35,000 she originally paid'The funding and finding builders and so on, it was all down to me to do, and I invested a little sweat and tears into it, so it will be a wrench when it goes.' When she first purchased the property, Louise, originally from Cheltenham, was living and working in Cornwall, but her tourism-based job meant she had little work during the winter months.With her five children and grandchildren living in Cheltenham, she was spending much of what she earned on renting accommodation so she could return to the area frequently to spend time with them. Louise originally planned to create a simple bedsit for herself, but after speaking to planners, she realised the former toilet block could become a far greater project. 'It was for very selfish reasons that I initially bought it, just to house myself during the winter months, just to get me somewhere to stay, visiting my family,' she said.'It was only when I started speaking to the planners and facing all those obstacles that I realised that I could actually try for something a little bit bigger that could accommodate holiday makers and offer Airbnb or holiday accommodation in that area.'When Louise first bought the property in Cleeve Hill, it was still recognisable as a public toilet block and had been sitting unused for years.She said it looked 'pretty grim', and all of the toilets were still in place.'I imagine it was a cost-cutting exercise,' she added. 'They couldn't afford to maintain it, so it lay dormant for a few years, and then they decided to auction it off.' The former toilet block under construction. When Louise first bought the property in Cleeve Hill, it was still recognisable as a public toilet block and had been sitting unused for years The renovation was not an easy process, with Louise buying the toilet block without planning permission and spending years trying to secure it Louise said planners initially wanted the building to remain looking like a toilet block rather than allowing her to create a cottage-style homeAnd the renovation was not an easy process, with Louise buying the toilet block without planning permission and spending years trying to secure it.While she was initially told by planners that there should be no problems with changing it into a home, several planning applications were turned down.She said: 'I think I tried about three or four attempts before I finally got permission to be able to increase the height of the building rather than extend it.'Then I had to get the funding to do it and hire a builder to do it.'Louise said planners initially wanted the building to remain looking like a toilet block rather than allowing her to create a cottage-style home.'For some reason, Tewksbury Borough Council wanted it to remain looking like a toilet block rather than me converting it into more of a cottage-type style with dormer windows and so on.'Once she had been given the go-ahead, Louise got to work on converting the old toilet block - ripping out the toilets and the urinals, while the builders took the floor up to fit insulation.The roof had to come off to allow Louise to increase the height of the building, which in turn provided sufficient headroom for the first-floor bedrooms. Louise originally planned to create a simple bedsit for herself, but after speaking to planners, she realised the former toilet block could become a far greater project Once she had been given the go-ahead, Louise got to work on converting the old toilet block - ripping out the toilets and the urinals, while the builders took the floor up to fit insulation The finished home features two double bedrooms with their own bathrooms, a kitchen-dining area, a separate sitting room and a downstairs toiletThe windows are all situated in their original setting, and a first floor was installed.'It's been quite popular,' Louise said. 'I think, again, because it's two double bedrooms, we have a lot of couples.''It provides each couple with its own bathroom. And I think because of that, that's where its strength lies. They're not having to share bathroom facilities.'The home's rural setting has also helped attract guests.'It's a lovely area,' Louise said. 'We get a lot of dog walkers, a lot of dog owners stay there because it's built into the common, which is immediately behind the property.''You've got miles and miles of dog walking and within walking distance to the nearest pub and hotel.'Now, Louise is selling the property for offers around £300,000 as she focuses on a new project in Cornwall.'I've got a property down in Cornwall that I'm building, so it would just be good to release some funds, and I'm finding it more and more difficult to operate the property from being 200 miles away,' she said.'It's quite difficult for me to find appropriate cleaners, so it's just getting logistically a bit difficult.'However, she admits that parting with the home will be emotional having put so much of her time and personal feelings into the transformation.She said: 'I need to focus on my life down in Cornwall and building a house down there. Sadly, it is time to close this chapter.'For more details about the property, visit de Mel Property.