Keswick’s controversial proposed Premier Inn hotel has been given a new look in revised plans which were submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority this week, sending the development cost soaring to more than £6 million.
The redesigned hotel still has an in-house restaurant, 71 bedrooms and a 30-space car park, but is now in a “more architecturally sophisticated” T-shaped building with lower front and back as it becomes three storeys throughout.
There is also a new roof design and more Lakeland stone than in the original scheme put forward in February, with the new version described as “significantly improved” by Darlington-based development company Premcor, owner of the vacant site of the former Ravensfield care home on High Hill.
The changes follow widespread opposition to Premcor’s initial plan, which had been objected to by Keswick Town Council and had prompted a 3,000-name petition opposing it.
Friends of the Lake District was also against the design, while Cumbria County Council recommended refusal because of concerns about car parking and traffic safety.
The new planning application includes a new turning circle for visiting vehicles, with the hotel still facing on to the road opposite the river defence glass barriers.
Premcor is working with Premier Inn on the project, which will create 30 permanent new jobs, and says its revised plan follows feedback from the local community, stakeholders and planning officers at the national park.
Premcor director Simon Hawkins said: “Our goal at High Hill is to create an attractive new hotel building that responds to the constraints of the site, suits its context and can be operated successfully by Premier Inn.
“The new proposed building is a significantly improved design that reflects the feedback we have received, connects with its environment and will create an excellent entrance into Keswick, in my view.”
A public consultation exercise held in Keswick and online last October after the plan first emerged had produced largely negative feedback.
Only 22 people had agreed with the proposed design of the hotel compared to 168 against and when asked if a new Premier Inn hotel and restaurant would have a positive impact in Keswick’s economy, only 31 said yes, 166 saying no.
Mr Hawkins said: “Residents understandably want the development of the former nursing home site to play a positive role in Keswick’s future. I believe a new hotel will do so by bringing the heavily constrained site back into long-term use, cater for the growing demand for overnight accommodation in Keswick and provide year-round jobs.
“It is a positive use for a site which is so close to the town centre and cannot be developed for new homes due to restrictive planning policies preventing residential development on the site due to the risk of flood.”
Premier Inn, whose parent company is brewery giant Whitbread, already has hotels at Cockermouth, Penrith, Whitehaven, Kendal and Ulverston and has been searching for an appropriate site in Keswick for many years.
It has more than 800 hotels and nearly 80,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland and is predicting 44,000 overnight stays per year at the Keswick Premier Inn — an average of 120 people each night.
Kevin Murray, Premier Inn’s head of acquisitions for the north of England and Ireland, said: “Bringing a new Premier Inn to High Hill will provide a new type of accommodation offer in Keswick.
“Our style of accommodation serves a different market compared to the well-run guest houses and B&Bs in the town.
“We also find that our ‘light touch’ offer supports the local economy as many of our customers go out to eat, drink, visit attractions, do activities, and generally enjoy the local area when they stay with us.
“We have an excellent opportunity to invest in Keswick for the long term and we believe our proposed hotel and the job opportunities we will create will bring many benefits for the town and wider area.”
The Lake District National Park’s Authority’s development control committee is expected to decide on Premcor’s application later this year.
