Plans to redevelop former hotel site turned down

Plans for a supermarket, care home and a drive-thru coffee shop on the site of a former hotel in Leicester have been turned down.

Leicester City Council has refused a planning application from Aldi to redevelop the site of the former Premier Inn on Braunstone Lane East, which would include knocking down the building.

A decision notice issued by the council said the "inadequate proportions of both accesses" in the proposals would cause "unacceptable and significant risk" to road safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Plans submitted by the applicant said the scheme would bring "significant improvements" to the site and would not have an "adverse impact" on road safety.

The notice from the council adds the proposal demonstrates a "significant loss of biodiversity" and said the loss of trees covered by protection orders would constitute "unacceptable harm" to the character of the area.

According to planning documents, if all existing trees covered by the protection order remained, the drive-thru coffee shop would not function and this would put the viability of the scheme "at risk".

A report submitted by the applicant stated the site had faced "significant vandalism" since the hotel chain left, with fires and floods on a "regular basis".

The document added the proposals for the site could create up to 60 full-time equivalent jobs as well as a range of temporary construction roles.

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