Royal Hotel in Woolacombe could be dethroned by housing development

The Royal Hotel, Woolacombe taken in 2016 (Credit : Roger Cornfoot / Geograph)

A landmark hotel in Woolacombe, which once welcomed guests from far and wide, faces the wrecking ball as plans to replace it with 64 dwellings and a commercial unit have been submitted.

The former Royal Hotel on Beach Road has been vacant since 2017 and is in a poor state of repair.

The plans submitted by Acorn Property Group seek to redevelop the existing brownfield site within the settlement boundary for Woolacombe, where there is an identified need for housing.

The proposal includes a mix of apartments, houses and mews houses, all designed to maximise the views over the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the sea.

The planning statement says: “The hotel comprises 117 rooms and has been vacant since 2017. The main hotel building sits at an elevated level from the road and is rendered with projecting balconies.

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“Following a period of low occupancy and its subsequent vacancy for several years, it is now in a poor state of repair and has a dilapidated appearance, which has a negative impact on both the street scene and the AONB.

“The building is suffering from severe water damage, vandalism and fire damage and is falling into further disrepair.”

The statement then details the proposal: “The site slopes upwards to the north, and the scheme has been designed to take account of the change in levels across the site with lower buildings located to the north and taller buildings to the south. All buildings have been orientated to maximise the views over the AONB and the sea.

“Close to the site’s northern boundary are the proposed Garden Houses. This comprises one detached dwelling and a terrace of three houses. The dwellings will be two storeys with bedrooms on the ground floor and living/ dining space on the first floor with a balcony.

“The Upper Apartments are located in the centre of the site close to the western boundary. This will contain a total of 22 apartments comprising two and three bedrooms.

“The first, second and third floors each contain six apartments, with four on the fourth floor.

“The Lower West Apartments are located in the southwest corner of the site closest to Beach Road. This will contain a total of 14 apartments comprising two and three bedrooms. This consists of two apartments with a commercial unit, surf and bike store and bin store on the ground floor, five flats on the first and second floors, and two apartments on the third floor.

“The Lower East Apartments are located in the southeastern corner of the site close to Beach Road. This will contain 20 apartments comprising one, two and three bedrooms. The first, second and third floors each contain five apartments, with two apartments on the fourth floor.

“The final element of the proposal is the proposed Mews Houses located to the north of the Lower East Apartments.”

The statement concludes: “The sensitive design makes the most efficient use of the site and ensures that the proposals would not have an adverse impact on the AONB. It is demonstrated within this Statement that there are no technical constraints that would prevent the site from being developed. The proposals represent sustainable development in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

“As a result, it is respectfully requested that planning permissions for this development are granted without delay.”

The consultation on the plans ends on February 28. Anyone who wishes to comment on the proposal can do so online at the North Devon Council website.