Fresh application to demolish Woodside Hotel to make way for 55 homes submitted
By James Smith 1st Mar 2024
Plans to demolish the Woodside Hotel to make way for a block of flats and 43 houses have been resubmitted to Warwick District Council (WDC).
Developer Vistry was last year refused permission to flatten the former manor house, with councillors criticising the sustainability of the proposed homes.
Council planners had recommended the application be approved, but the planning committee unanimously refused to grant permission.
However, Vistry has now resubmitted its previous application - but with an additional energy and sustainability statement.
While much of the previous designs have been kept, the developer now says it will use more energy efficient materials, install heat pumps and solar panels across the units, as well as EV chargers.
Aside from that, much of the application is the same as the scheme put forward last year.
If approved, the 12 flats would be for market sale alongside 34 of the houses. The remaining nine houses would be designated as affordable homes.
"The proposed development would result in the total loss of the existing locally listed building on the site," plans said.
"However, it is considered that the loss is outweighed by the benefits of the proposal, and a programme of historic recording can be achieved by condition."
Vistry added: "The application aims to provide a scheme that is well integrated and harmonises with the neighbouring context, landscape and the local area, generally in terms of density, scale, layout, access, and appearance, without detracting from the historic and natural charm of the town."
The developer says it had looked at converting the hotel - which has been closed since 2020 - into the apartment block.
But it said this would be too expensive, and the 12 flats would not reach a sufficient energy standard.
Vistry also said there was no prospect of the Woodside reopening.
"The hotel was stripped and vandalised, and is presently in a poor state of repair," the application added.
"Therefore, the hotel is now at a point where it would be uneconomical to make the required refurbishments to reopen as a hotel."
While Vistry has already been given prior approval to flatten the site, locals and councillors have continued to speak against its redevelopment.
The last application was objected to by the town's MP Sir Jeremy Wright, Kenilworth Town Council and 25 members of the public.
Sir Jeremy said there was no justification for the project, nor for more homes in the town.
Last May an application to demolish the 74-bed Woodside was thrown out by WDC on biodiversity grounds.
The site was subsequently sold to Vistry who are currently building 620 houses around the hotel.
Town councillors previously said it was "appalling" how little respect was paid to the history of the building in the planning application.
See the full application here.
CHECK OUT OUR Jobs Section HERE!
kenilworth vacancies updated hourly!
Click here to see more: kenilworth jobs
Share:
