A controversial two-storey extension to the Premier Inn hotel on East Bawtry Road has been approved by councillors, despite receiving objections from local residents
Premier Inn, working in partnership with Walsingham Planning, submitted a proposal to Rotherham Council last year seeking to expand its existing 62-bedroom hotel, which is also home to a Beefeater restaurant.
The newly approved plans will see an extension built to the east of the building, resulting in a 14 additional bedrooms. Although 16 rooms will be constructed, two current rooms will be removed to make way for a connecting corridor.
One of the main points of contention has been the reduction in on-site parking. The development will reduce the number of car parking spaces from 98 to 83 โ a change that triggered the majority of local objections. Residents expressed concerns that the cut in parking provision would force hotel guests to seek spaces nearby residential streets, increasing congestion and disrupting the local community.
Following several surveys requested by the council โ including an assessment of nearby on-street parking and the use of the car park between the hotel, pub, and neighbouring businessesโ planners at Rotherham Council concluded that โthe objections raised would not outweigh the judgement that the development would not cause unacceptable impact on highway safety, or a severe impact on the road network.โ
They also noted that โthe car parking survey also indicates that based on the surveyโs undertaken, that there is the potential for some displaced parking to on-street parking to take place, for a short time period in the evening, though this is as a result of the activities of the adjoining convenience store, snooker hall and dance hall, where patronage exceeds their 18 allocated car parking spaces.โ
Despite the public pushback, members of the council’s planning regulatory board voted 7-1 in favour of the extension at a meeting held on Friday (July 3).
