PLANNERS are recommending the demolition of the historic facade of a former New Forest hotel which has links to the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

Burry & Knight’s previous proposals for the Lyndhurst Park Hotel, which were approved in 2022, included retaining the façade.

Now members of the New Forest National Park Authority’s (NPA) planning committee have been recommended to approve new plans, which would see this part of the hotel flattened as it has suffered “structural failure”.

Sherlock Holmes writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was involved in the redesign of the building in the early 20th century.

A large part of the hotel has already been bulldozed as work progresses on delivering 79 homes.

Burry & Knight plans to demolish what is left of the building before reconstructing it to serve as flats.

A report from structural engineers Calcinotto said: “Following a long period of vacancy (unheated and unmaintained) and damage to the roof covering (removal of lead and holes within roof lights) prior to Hoburne purchasing the site at the end of October 2019, the existing structure has endured significant water ingress and deteriorated to an extent that a section has partially self-demolished and further sections of the building appear to be in danger of collapse in the near future.”

The structural engineers recommended the demolition of the building with a complete rebuild.

The report added: “As the building is not safe to either work within nor near due to risk of further collapse, no strengthening or façade retention works can be safely carried out.”

A heritage statement on behalf of the applicant by tor&co said modern alterations and extensions had “significantly” impacted the architectural and historic interest of the building, adding it required demolition.

A report by NPA planning officers ahead of the committee meeting on October 15 said it was clear the building was in a “perilous condition”.

The previously-approved scheme for the retention of part of the hotel was no longer a viable option, the report said.

In recommending approval of the application, the officer’s report said: “It has been concluded that a scheme that retains the benefits from the previous scheme (i.e. the recreation and aesthetic improvement of the historic façade) outweighs the harm to the non-designated heritage asset.

“In addition, that the public benefits of the scheme are considered to outweigh the additional degree of less than substantial harm to the conservation area.”