Developers planning to transform a Bournemouth hotel into a five-star resort with a rooftop restaurant and garden spa have submitted amendments for part of their plans.
The £20million proposal for The Savoy Hotel on Bournemouth’s Westcliff includes the partial demolition of existing hotel buildings, alterations to provide hotel bedrooms, spa and fitness facilities, a restaurant and terrace and the erection of a garden restaurant.
The scheme also includes the installation of a new outdoor swimming pool and formation of parking spaces.
The hotel was bought by renowned UK hotelier and owner Nicolas Roach last year.
Proposals for the Victorian villa include:
• 21 remodelled bedrooms
• an indoor spa, fitness and wellness centre
• rooftop restaurant and terrace
• new outdoor swimming pool
• garden restaurant with salt cave
A planning statement says the project will create a "significant new world-class hotel, which is missing in Bournemouth".
It adds: "A multimillion pound investment in the Savoy speaks volumes for the potential of Bournemouth as a tourism destination and a location to do business.
"It will help to raise the profile of the town and attract other inward investment.
Read more: Plans for the Savoy Hotel in Bournemouth
"Bournemouth is lacking a five star offering and the proposed development would provide additional wellness facilities and restaurants (open to the public) as well as high end accommodation which would help to attract visitors to Bournemouth seeking a luxury offering."
Concerns raised
But objections have been raised from the heritage team, with case officer Tom Hubbard querying why the public benefits to the scheme couldn’t be achieved through a revised scheme to “mitigate the level of harm arising”.
He said: “Whilst there is no objection to the principle of sympathetic changes it is considered that the scheme as proposed would have a harmful impact upon the appearance of the Savoy and in turn the character and appearance of the conservation area. This harm would be less than substantial and considerable in nature.”
Read more: How The Savoy Hotel in Bournemouth will resemble Miami's South Beach
Bournemouth Civic Society said: “Although at first glance the general appearance of what is proposed may be considered satisfactory, the Society is inclined to agree with the opinion of the Case Officer Tom Hubbard who think that the considerable size of the hipped roof with prominent new dormers of the new extension, by being above the existing roof line would have a negative aesthetic effect on the general appearance of the new north side of the hotel.
“We also have sympathy for local comment (31 messages) who feared that the new facilities would lead to a loss of privacy and an undesirable increase in infrastructure noise. As a solution, the Society would suggest a slight reduction in the general proportions of the proposed northern extension and the protruding hipped roof lowered to no higher than the adjacent forms.”
Now, amended documents on the garden restaurant and rooftop as well as fourth and fifth floor of the hotel have been added to the application.
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