Hotel plan passed

Entrepreneur James Kimber is seeking outline planning permission to demolish the hotel's existing eight-room annexe and replace it with a new block including 15 hotel apartments and eight hotel rooms.

Permission is also sought to increase parking from 51 to 68 places.

The annexe in Herbrand Walk was formerly a private residence.

Delegated planning approval was granted by the Rother planning committee.

The scheme calls for the creation of 15 leasehold hotel apartments and eight double hotel rooms on the site - four of which would have disabled access and accommodation.

Services to the hotel apartments could include housekeeping, room service, use of the hotel's leisure facilities, 24-hour security and discounts to apartment owners and their families when staying at the hotel.

Agents for Cooden Beach Hotel Ltd. told Rother: "It is intended that the proposed development will provide further income to the owners and managers of the hotel. This will facilitate the continuing development and general future maintenance and refurbishment of the Cooden Beach Hotel.

"The proposal allows it to develop further its vital role within the community of Bexhill-on-Sea as social hub and valuable employer of local people."

The chief planning officer said in a report to members: "This hotel provides an important tourist and conference facility for the district and its upgrading is to be supported.

"Whilst it is proposed to provide 15 apartments in the scheme, these are to be integrated into the overall scheme and are intended by the owners to provide further income to allow continuing upgrading of the premises...

Car parking is to be reorganised to increase the number on site and allow a separate parking area for the apartments."

Mr Rallings describes the design for the three-storey block as modern and drawn from the designs of some of the recently refurbished property in Herbrand Walk.

He concludes: "I am satisfied that a development along these lines can be satisfactorily achieved on the site and that detailed design and materials will be subject to subsequent reserved matters application.

"Consultee responses are awaited and may necessitate further discussion with the applicants, but I am able to support the principle of the development."

Officers did raise concerns about the proximity to neighbouring properties on Herbrand Walk but believed they could be overcome through negotiation.

Cllr Joanne Gadd said: "I'm very pleased over this because I think it would increase tourism for a start-off and also because they're going to increase the facilities for the disabled. I agree about the building being so close to the neighbouring house and that should definitely be rectified."

Cllr Peter Fairhurst added: "This is a very, very welcome development."