Broads hotel could be demolished

A Broadland hotel could be demolished and replaced with an apartment block if plans, to go before North Norfolk District Council this week, are approved.

The owner of The Broads Hotel, in Station Road, Hoveton, says it is uneconomical and regularly runs at less than 35pc occupancy.

He wants to knock it down and replace it with 17 two bed and seven single bedroom flats.

The development would range between two and four storeys high and see 32 residents' parking spaces, some of which would be underground, created on the site.

A similar application that included ground floor leisure facilities was withdrawn earlier this year.

Jon Herbert, who took over the hotel about five years ago with his wife Valerie, said he would continue to use the hotel's seven room annex, opposite the main building, as holiday accommodation.

He said: “The building is ugly and does not naturally attract customers. It needs complete rewiring and the price would be £80,000-£100,000.

“It was not designed with modern economics in mind and if you put the heating on you have to put it on in every room.

“We have been taking public opinion and although there are a few people who do not like the design, the vast majority of people are in favour of it and recognise that Hoveton needs some refurbishment in general.”

But the plan for the hotel, which was built in the 1900s and has 1960s and 1980s extensions, has not been welcomed by everyone.

Hoveton Parish Council says the building is out of character with the surrounding area and should be reduced to two storeys throughout. They have also raised concerns that the parking would be prone to flooding.

A further 10 letters of objection have also been received by planners with concerns including parking problems and loss of light and privacy to nearby homes.

The Broads Society has also raised concerns at the size of the building and says it regrets the loss of another hotel on the broads.

North Norfolk District Council's Development Control Committee meets on Thursday, September 20, at 9.30am at the council offices on Holt Road, Cromer.