New plans to turn Alveston House Hotel into retirement flats

Developer David Cahill has made several attempts to build on the site of Alveston House Hotel, with plans being rejected on appeal in march.

Two new applications have now been entered, which would see 42 two-bedroom retirement flats built on the site. Two bungalows would also be demolished as part of the plans.

Planning officers at South Gloucestershire Council ruled in April they did not require prior approval for the hotel to be knocked down. It will therefore be demolished if the latest planning applications are accepted.

Residents and councillors have regularly expressed concerns about the hotel plans.

In a joint statement councillors Matthew Riddle and Keith Burchell (Con. Severn Vale) said; “We are very concerned about these new planning applications because of the increased traffic and parking problems it could cause in the village and the loss of a notable, landmark building.

“We have asked the planning officer to consider these issues along with the previous planning appeal decision, which was to refuse permission.”

Commenting on the latest application Andrew Birkett said: “There will be a significant increase in the number of vehicles expected to be onsite at any given time.

He also expressed concern properties on Paddock Gardens will be overlooked by the proposed development.

Kit Stokes, director for Stokes Morgan Planning, who are acting on behalf of Mr Cahill, said: “The revised application seeks to address all of the comments made by the Inspector at the last appeal.”

He claims that changes made to the car parking plans and the revised design of the proposed site ‘greatly reduces the potential for noise and disturbance to occupants of Paddock Gardens’.

He added: “Given the pressure to build thousands of new houses, it’s our view that building new apartments and houses for retired people in an accessible community location is common sense and will free up other market family homes in the area.”