AN HISTORIC Bournemouth hotel which regularly attracted celebrity entertainers in its heyday is at risk of demolition – after developers submitted plans to build 95 apartments in its place.
Comedian Jim Davidson, disc jockey Tony Blackburn, Carry On star Hattie Jacques and hundreds more entertainers entering its annual star search competition all performed at the Manchester Hotel, situated on the corner of St Michael’s Road and Hahnemann Road.
But Christchurch-based developers Building and Construction City Ltd have claimed the Victorian building’s “architectural merit has been lost”, submitting an application to knock it down and build 70 flats and 25 holiday apartments.
If the plans designed by architects Anders Roberts Cheer go ahead, the new block will comprise five storeys with a basement car park for 58 vehicles.
“The existing hotel building at the site has been heavily altered and extended from its original form,” the developer’s design statement says.
“Many of the building’s period features have been removed or altered beyond a repairable state.
“Furthermore, the large parking area to the front of the building is uncharacteristic with the surrounding area and could be argued to be harmful to the character of the area.
“Therefore it is considered the site makes a neutral contribution, at best, to the character and special interest of the conservation area.”
But resident John Green has submitted a letter in objection to the proposals, citing the council’s policy aimed at protecting the borough’s tourism facilities.
“This is a major site that has supported the hotel numbers in the West Cliff area for many years, and I feel that reducing 205 tourism spaces to 25 is a large reduction,” said Mr Green.
“The proposal identifies some 60 parking bays for 95 separate properties which in this densely populated area could well lead to disputes over parking.
“There is no suggestion of any barrier on the underground car park which in this location will become an attractive site for rough sleepers and antisocial behaviour.
“That will mean that security of the stairs and lifts will need to be of a high quality to prevent people walking in through the car park and accessing unoccupied holiday lets.”
In 2004 planning permission to demolish the hotel and build a block of 50 flats was refused on the grounds that granting it would have “resulted in an unacceptable loss of tourism accommodation”.
The plans can be viewed by searching for application number 7-2016-2915 at planning.bournemouth.gov.uk/RealTimeRegister/planappsrch.aspx
