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From the Dover Express, Thursday, 5
April, 2012. 65p. Report by Kathy Bailes
REGENERATION SCHEME OUT OF THE BLOCKS
DESIGN: The hotel will feature a raised-level terrace
and three restaurants
Work to begin on hotel after new plan approved
BUILDING work on the first phase of the Dover Town Investment Zone (DTIZ)
will start by the end of the year, says the retail development expert
drafted onto the scheme in October 2010.
John Laker made the announcement after Dover District Council planning
committee members
approved plans for the 108-bed Travelodge hotel, telecommunications mast
and 10-metre LED screen at Woolcoomber and St James streets.
He described the decision as a major “milestone” in a project that has
been in the planning stage for more than a decade.
Collapse
Laker Developments, Bond City and architects Lyons Sleeman and Hoare, have
been working together to regenerate the St James Street site since the
collapse of a deal for Asda to move in as anchor tenant two years ago.
The new designs created by the team are based on the old street layout of
the seafront site, coupled with a maritime theme. The Travelodge hotel was
the subject of a separate application, now approved, which will be
followed by
the second phase for shops, homes, restaurants and parking when land
ownership negotiations are completed.
Planning permission for a hotel, mast and screen was originally granted in
2009. The new application has reduced the screen size and the hotel height
but kept the backward L-shape design.
Mr Laker said: “We are delighted to have received planning approval for
the hotel element of our redevelopment of the St James site.
“It marks another milestone in the progress towards delivering a town
centre scheme which will underpin Dover's sustainability for the future.
“It will also allow the construction
of the first phase of the scheme to get under way quickly and provide
activity on a site where redevelopment has been long awaited.
We would expect to be on site towards the end of this year. ”
The four-storey Travelodge will have three restaurants on the ground
floor, parking including nine disabled bays, a coach drop-off point and a
raised-level terrace.
Concerns were raised at the meeting by speaker for The Dover Society
Jeremy Cope about the “inferior quality” design of the hotel.
But Clifford Ranee, agent for Bond City, told councillors: “The site
is seen in context with late-20th-century development, including the
Gateway Flats and the leisure centre on the corner.”
Fears were also raised about the possibility of road accidents due to
motorists being distracted by the LED screen, which will air adverts,
public information and a Welcome to Dover message.
A proposal to attach a temporary condition that the use of the screen
be reviewed after two years was approved by the committee.
DDC leader Paul Watkins said of the permission approval: “This is a
vote of confidence in the development and growth agenda for Dover. The
development needs to proceed as a speedily as possible to show to the
investors and community that Dover is on the move.”
It is hoped the Travelodge will be complete during 2013, when
Burlington House could also be razed.
BID TO GET PURCHASE POWERS
PREPARATIONS are being made for DDC to be able to make Compulsory
Purchase Orders (CPO) within the site.
Letters have been sent to land and property owners to forewarn them that
they will be issued with a requisition for information notice. The
notice requires them to answer questions about their property. The
letter says:
“It is a fact-finding exercise as part of the standard due diligence
process. It will ensure the council is able to communicate effectively
with those who may be affected by the development.”
A report is due to be made to DDC cabinet members on May 14 to gain
approval for a formal CPO resolution.
SUPPORT: The four-storey Travelodge hotel forms part of the DTIZ
scheme that has been welcomed by DDC leader Paul Watkins.
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