Decision due on turning former hotel on Scarborough South Cliff into flats
A Grade II listed former hotel on Scarborough’s South Cliff is set to be turned into flats.
A Grade II listed former hotel on Scarborough’s South Cliff is set to be turned into flats.
Wright Investments wants to transform the Villa Esplanade in the town’s South Cliff into 26 self-contained apartments.
Scarborough Council’s planning committee is set to meet on Thursday next week to decide on the proposals, with officers recommending that planning permission be granted.
A separate application to turn the ground floor restaurant, El Gringos, into two flats and the basement nightclub Ink bar into a gym have also been submitted to the council but will be dealt with by officers under delegated powers.
The planning application for the hotel states that the prominent building would be saved from falling into disrepair if granted approval.
The submission adds:
“The council is asked to take into account the fact this hotel has not operated successfully for tourist and holiday use for a period well in excess of 10 years.
“Our client is looking to develop this site as residential as it is based on sound business reasoning as historically the business has failed for holiday use.
“The previous owner has provided evidence of use of the building as self–contained residential units during their ownership.
“The hotel that operated on the site for many years ceased to operate due to viability issues and has been vacant for a significant length of time.”
Villa Esplanade is a Grade II listed building of special architectural or historic interest and it also falls within the Scarborough Conservation Area which means listed building consent is required.
A report prepared for the planning committee states that the loss of the hotel would not have a detrimental impact on the area.
It adds:
“The Villa Esplanade has not been in successful commercial use in recent years and during that time the building has been actively marketed for sale.
“Unfortunately, whilst it has remained on the market the condition of the building has deteriorated to the detriment of the conservation area.
“This application provides an opportunity to see the building brought back into viable use and there is no evidence to suggest that the conversion of the building would have a detrimental effect upon the availability of holiday accommodation currently on offer within the South Cliff area.”