Kenilworth campaigners bid to stop Woodside hotel demolition

Woodside Conference Centre was sold to the Vistry Group in 2022

Residents have begun a campaign to save a landmark Kenilworth hotel from being demolished for housing.

Warwick District Council granted prior approval to knock down Woodside Hotel and Conference Centre in April.

Matt Shepherd, who has started a petition against the decision, said the Glasshouse Lane site's loss threatened "the fabric" of the community.

Writing in the petition, he added the Victorian buildings were "an integral part of our heritage assets".

Thought to date to about 1860, original red-brick house Woodside is on the council's local list of heritage assets.

The wider buildings, which include a stable block and gym, had been vacant since the hotel businesses went into administration in 2020 and were sold to national housebuilder Vistry Group last year.

A proposal to build 55 dwellings there was refused by the council's planning committee on 14 December because it was contrary to carbon reduction targets.

An objection at the time from local MP Jeremy Wright expressed regret that the application to demolish the hotel had been granted.

'Cherished memories'

The Kenilworth and Southam MP also raised questions over the justification for further housing and suggested the site might become a viable business again

However, the land forms part of an allocated housing site with outline planning permission for 620 dwellings.

Mr Shepherd urged the council to reconsider its decision on the hotel's demolition, highlighting residents' "cherished memories" of the hotel.

"Immediate action is crucial to safeguard our heritage, ensuring that decisions about the Woodside's fate are made with careful consideration for its historical and cultural importance," he added.

"Let us rally together to halt the demolition and encourage a more thoughtful approach to the development that respects our town's rich history."

The BBC has contacted Warwick District Council and Vistry Group for comment.