Derelict listed building hotel development refused

The derelict hall would have been renovated and extended under the plans

A development that would have seen a derelict listed building converted into an upmarket hotel near RAF Cosford has been refused.

The scheme at Neach Hill in Neachley included changing a Grade II listed 19th Century house into a 12-bedroom hotel and building a 46-bedroom hotel block and pool building to form a spa.

Shropshire Council's Southern Planning Committee unanimously voted against the initiative near Shifnal, which also included new homes.

Planning officers had recommended refusal, saying it would be an inappropriate development in the green belt and lead to an increase in vehicles.

It also had the potential to impact adversely on the residential amenity of the area in respect to noise and disturbance, they said.

The venue fell into disrepair and became a magnet for illegal raves

The scheme submitted by Nazmo Limited included converting a Coach House to provide more guest accommodation, repairing and reinstating a walled garden with new orangery and ancillary buildings and erecting 58 houses to facilitate construction work.

The villa fell into disrepair in the early 2000s and soon became a venue for illegal raves, resulting in what the owners described as "extensive" damage to the building.

A planning consultant speaking on behalf of the applicant said considerable pre-application consultations took place with the council, including visits to the site, which were positive.

"I'm quite up for it to be a hotel, but 58 houses is too much, and the footprint for the hotel is far big and it will disrupt the look of what is a graded building," said councillor Nigel Lumby.

"It detracts from the house, so for that reason and the fact it is in green belt, I cannot support this."

Another councillor, Andy Boddington, stated: "This development is too much for the location and too much for the surrounding roads."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.