PLANS to demolish a Bournemouth hotel which “cannot be made into a viable tourist asset” have been withdrawn.
Empery and Co will no longer go ahead with its plans to demolish Bourne Hall Hotel, in Priory Road, West Cliff, and replace it with flats.
Developers had lodged a planning application to tear down the 20th-century hotel and replace it with a seven-storey block of 60 apartments comprising a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units.
NHS Dorset’s Dr Colin Davidson, on the infrastructure and workforce planning team, wrote to BCP Council with concerns the new flats would bring “in the region of 144” extra people to the area.
He said the developers would need to provide a financial contribution to nearby surgeries as the estimated cost for an additional clinical room is “in the region of £100,000”.
Meanwhile, Historic England said it had concerns with the proposed redevelopment in a letter.
Eve Van der Steen, assistant inspector of historic buildings and areas, said: “We consider that the proposals as set out within this application would fail to enhance or better reveal the significance of the West Cliff and Poole Hill Conservation Area.
“The loss of the Victorian villa would further erode the legibility and consistency of the historic character of the area and the replacement building is of a design, scale and materiality which neither responds to local character and history, nor does it make a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness.”
BCP Council’s conservation and urban design department agreed, objecting to the proposals.
Conservation officer Ruth Povey said: “The proposed redevelopment is deemed a backwards step and it is disappointing that the applicant has not engaged in pre-application discussions.”
Dorset Police, however, raised no formal objection but recommended CCTV be put in place to protect the 80 cycle spaces which would have come with the new-build.
The initial proposals were handed to BCP Council in October, where documents stated the current business had been “overtaken by more modern hotel accommodation constructed in the town centre”.
Spruce Town Planning, on behalf of the applicants, said the new flats would be a boost for town centre housing while also supporting its “vitality”.
The hotel has been approached for more details.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel