Agenda item - BH2014/03826 - The Wardley Hotel, 10 Somerhill Road, Hove - Full Planning

Internal alterations to facilitate increased number of bed spaces from 40 to 51 rooms (part retrospective)

RECOMMENDATION – GRANT

              Internal alterations to facilitate increased number of bed spaces from 40 to 51 rooms (Part Retrospective).

(1)             It was noted that this application had been the subject of a site visit prior to the meeting.

(2)          The Planning Manager, Applications, Nicola Hurley, gave a presentation showing the proposed changes to the internal layout of the building. In principle the expansion of the hotel to provide additional bedrooms was supported by existing and emerging planning policy and the amenity and transport impacts of the proposal had been fully considered in the report. As part of the recent refurbishment works a ramped access to the hotel had been created off Somerhill Road and a lift, to all levels of the building had been installed. It was considered that the proposal would provide additional guest accommodation to an existing hotel without resulting in significant harm to neighbouring amenity or highway safety; approval was therefore recommended.

              Questions for Officers

(3)          Councillor Barradell referred to the fact that when visiting the site the previous day she had noted that the kitchen area had been provided with microwaves rather than a cooker. As there was also no communal area she querying whether the building would still fall within the use class for a “hotel”. It was confirmed that it would.

(4)          A vote was taken and the 11 Members of the Committee who were present voted unanimously that planning permission be granted.

118.10  RESOLVED - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 11 of the report and the policies and guidance in section 7 and resolves to GRANT planning permission subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in section 11.

              Note: Councillor Hamilton was not present at the meeting during the discussion or vote on the above application.