Bath hotel plan to meet opposition from guest house owners
Guest house owners are to object to a second attempt by a developer to win permission for a new hotel in the centre of Bath.
The 100-strong Bath Independent Guest House Association (BIGHA) says there is no need for the 190-room hotel being proposed by New Liberty Diamond at Green Park.
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The firm's initial scheme for the Green Park House former council day centre was turned down by Bath and North East Somerset Council in December, on the grounds that the design was not in keeping with the city.
Existing tourism businesses say there is no need for the sort of budget hotel accommodation being planned, with industry leaders saying the demand is for high end boutique venues.
New Liberty Diamond has changed the design of the building and reduced the number of rooms from the 200 proposed first time around.
But BIGHA committee member Leslie Redwood said his association's concerns still remained.
The hotel would be the biggest in Bath – comfortably beating the Hilton Bath City, which has 156 rooms.
Mr Redwood said: "This would be a big building with a huge number of rooms."
Among the concerns raised over the hotel, which would have a coffee shop and restaurant, is that it would have no parking for guests.
Mr Redwood added: "We already have two Travelodges and a Holiday Inn Express.
"We are concerned about the quality of the accommodation offer for Bath. This damages that and that's a bad thing for all of us."
The latest planning application has been put together following a public exhibition and fresh talks with planning officials at B&NES.
No operator has yet been identified for the hotel, which would be housed in a building which would be three and five storeys high and employ about 80 people.
The latest design has a porch-style design for the hotel entrance, a rotunda and a shop-front appearance on the ground floor.
A statement from planning consultancy Scott Brownrigg says: "The applicant has sought to develop a sensitive design that responds to the opportunities presented by the site to create a building of distinction along Green Park Road.
"The scheme has been developed with specialist architectural advice from a local Bath architect and has been refined to pick out the classical proportions.
The hotel entrance refers back to the architectural features at Cavendish Place and the new rotunda reflects those at Sydney Place. Comments received so far have been very encouraging.
"The scheme has been developed in close consultation with the council and English Heritage and seeks to respond to the concerns raised by members last December.
"Discussions have also taken place with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and local interest groups.
"The scheme responds to the draft Visitor Accommodation Study and will provide much-needed accommodation in the tourism centre of Bath.
"We believe that this is a high quality design which respects the World Heritage Site context and will be a valuable addition to the townscape of Bath."
7 Comments
by The Gnome, Central Bath
Tuesday, June 08 2010, 3:40PM
“Who's pockets are being lined for pushing this one through eh?
Hands up councillors who are going to benefit monetarily!”
by Thomas, Bath
Monday, June 07 2010, 9:50AM
“Isn't this a little like a corner shop trying to stop a Tesco? Everyone in any kind of business has to deal with competition and if it makes them up their game then all well and good. The cost of a night in Bath is, in general, extortionate, and there needs to be more cheaper accommodation to encourage visitors. Bath has an expensive label that it needs to shake off in order to survive.”
by Somms, Bath
Friday, June 04 2010, 11:59AM
“Whilst you don't want to see local guest houses go out of business, but they are incredibly expensive to stay in. Friends and family normally stay outside and commute in when they visit or use the £19 Travelodge offers. Come on BIGHA, start getting your members to offer value so it makes it more difficult for these large developments. Raise your own game and accept competition.”
by Dom, London
Friday, June 04 2010, 10:46AM
“As far as I am aware the developer does not need to demonstrate the "need" for this hotel in order to get planning permission. The developer would need to demonstrate how the increased traffic associated with the hotel would flow (eg where the cars would park) but at the end of the day if they want to build a certain type of hotel then they can. All the competitors who are complaining just need to up their games to stay ahead. They can't just ask the council to refuse permission because they are scared of a bit of competition!”
by James, Bath
Friday, June 04 2010, 10:25AM
“I bet they'll complain. Bath has very expensive accomodation for those coming to vist. I would argue that the city needs more hotel rooms.”
by Gary, Bath
Friday, June 04 2010, 9:00AM
“If I remeber correctly, this was only refused previously on design grounds, so the parking and hotel-need arguements are now irrelevant.”
by Ron, Bathwick
Friday, June 04 2010, 8:44AM
“I would imagine many of the BIGHA members fought tooth and nail with the authorities to get permission for their own venture. How many B&B's/Guesthouses have anything other than on street parking to offer?”