High quality hotel proposed for city (From Worcester News)

High quality hotel proposed for city

12:10pm Tuesday 17th August 2010 in

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PLANS have been unveiled for a 128-bedroom high quality hotel to be built on a key site in Worcester City centre.

The four-storey building – which would have a minimum three-star rating and create about 50 jobs – would include a restaurant, gymnasium/fitness suite, conferencing facilities and a rooftop terrace.

Four restaurant/cafe units are also proposed for the Lowesmoor site next to land currently undergoing a £75 million regeneration.

The former granary building will also be converted to provide nine self-contained flats – six two-bedroom, three one-bedroom – as well as a shop on the ground floor.

The granary building would be connected to the main hotel building by an aerial bridge.

In GVA Grimley’s planning statement submitted to Worcester City Council on behalf of developer Hampton Properties it says: “The proposals overall represent a significant and positive development for Worcester which will bring about significant benefits for the character and appearance of the locality as well as providing a much-needed high quality hotel development.”

There are currently seven hotels in the city offering about 395 rooms.

We reported in November how consultants Humberts Leisure described the current standard of hotels in the city as poor and reinforced calls for the city to attract at least one “top-end” provider.

If the proposal for the Lowesmoor site opposite St Martin’s Gate car park were to go ahead then seven buildings within the site – none of which have any real historical significance – would need to be demolished.

Those buildings are currently occupied by a number of car-related businesses.

The existing access point off the main St Martin’s Gate road would be retained but no car parking would be provided at the front of the hotel – the drop-off zone is intended to be a “shared space” – but a place for coaches to drop passengers off would be provided on Silver Street instead.

The design of the hotel, which would be located in the Lowesmoor Conservation Area, is described as contemporary while drawing influence from the former vinegar works buildings currently being rejuvenated by Carillion Richardson as part of its £75 million regeneration project.

Hampton Properties believe the two projects would complement each other with the planning statement saying: “In conjunction with this development it would make a significant contribution towards improving the character and appearance of the north eastern area of the city centre, as well as the St Martin’s Gate frontage of the site, and the Lowesmoor Conservation Area as a whole.”

The application, which has been recommended for approval despite some concerns about the scale of the development, is due to go before Worcester City Council’s planning committee on Thursday.