Hotel plans are criticised
PLANS to convert a Great Yarmouth hotel into a 10 apartments look set to be refused by councillors next week over fears that “valuable” holiday accommodation will be lost.
PLANS to convert a Great Yarmouth hotel into a 10 apartments look set to be refused by councillors next week over fears that “valuable” holiday accommodation will be lost.
An application by owner Dexter Bowers to convert the Hazelhurst Hotel, at Norfolk Square, into 10 two-bedroom apartments has run into a flurry of criticism.
The proposals have been opposed by the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority who say the hotel, which falls into the secondary holiday area, is “valuable” hotel stock.
Neighbours also have concerns about the application ranging from concern over the number of conversions in the area already, inadequate parking, and damage to the holiday industry.
One letter, sent to the borough council by bed and breakfast owner Steven Allington, reads: “I feel approving planning permission for this development will lead to others in the area going along the same route. The Norfolk Square/Wellesley Road area has enough flats etc and will soon become like any other areas of town where tourism is not of any importance.”
Mr Bowers' accountant, states in the planning officers report that his client had suffered “years of difficult trading” and after letting the building to business, which have since failed, found it difficult to collect rent.
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He says his client has been left with no other choice than “to consider alternative options”.
The Hazelhurst is at the junction of Wellesley Road and Albermarle Road and while planning officers admit there is a “large” number of letting rooms in the area, they point out a similar application to convert the Barrons Court Hotel, also in Norfolk Square, into a single home in 2003 was refused by planners because of loss of holiday accommodation.
Members of the borough council's development control committee have been recommended to refuse the application on grounds that the hotel “makes a valuable contribution to the town's holiday accommodation stock and should.”
The meeting takes place at the town hall on Tuesday at 6pm.
