Scarborough: Plans submitted to demolish fire-ravaged hotel

North Yorkshire Council is seeking permission to demolish the "structurally unsafe" building on Belmont Road

Plans have been submitted to demolish a fire-ravaged hotel in Scarborough.

Fifty firefighters tackled the blaze at the Marine Residence Hotel on Belmont Road on 16 July.

A report commissioned by North Yorkshire Council found that "full demolition is the only viable and safe option" for the Victorian property.

The plan to demolish the hotel, which closed in 2020, is currently pending consideration with the planning authority.

Fifty firefighters tackled the blaze at the Marine Residence Hotel in July

According to the report, the former hotel's roof and top floor were completely destroyed in the blaze, together with substantial damage to the two floors immediately below.

The building is currently "a threat to public safety and has resulted in widespread disruption to the town's residents due to the need to close nearby streets", it said.

"It is at risk of collapse and action to resolve this threat to public safety needs to be taken," the report added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a council impact report said that one of the biggest issues of concern regarding demolition was the building's presence within Scarborough's conservation area and the effects on nearby heritage assets.

The former hotel, which was previously hit by fire in December 2022, is located adjacent to the Grade II Valley Garden and South Park Gardens.

However, the report concluded that "public benefits exist to outweigh the limited, identified harm".