Arson-hit hotel's future to be decided

The future of a derelict hotel that has been targeted by arsonists could be decided later this week.

Coventry City Council's planning committee is due to hear amended plans to demolish the current building to make way for 55 homes.

Parts of the hotel date back to the 1800s, with the existing mock Tudor frontage added early in the 20th century, before the site shut permanently as a hotel in 2022.

The proposals for demolition are supported by letters from the Allesley and Coundon Wedge Society, who have called for the Birmingham Road site to be redeveloped after a series of suspected arson attacks on the building.

The first plans for the site proposed more than 60 houses to be built, but those were changed after neighbours said the development would overlook their existing homes and reduce their privacy.

A report to the planning committee said the amended scheme "will not result in any significant impact upon the conservation area, listed heritage assets, neighbour amenity, highway safety, ecology, or infrastructure, subject to relevant conditions and contributions."

It is being recommended that planning permission is delegated on the condition a section 106 agreement, which would mitigate the impact of the development and mean the developer pays an agreed amount to the city council, is signed.

The authority had suggested almost £1.4m for health, sport and education provision and a further sum to compensate for the loss of trees with preservation orders on them.

However, Avant Homes West Midlands has refused to agree to that and said it would pay £120,000 towards biodiversity plans instead.

Coventry City Council's planning committee is due to make a decision when it meets on Thursday.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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