Agenda item

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which provided information on the Local Listing Nomination in respect of the Allesley Hotel, Birmingham Road, Allesley.

Further to the receipt of a nomination for the addition to the local list of the former Allesley Hotel, public consultation was undertaken between 2 August and 14 September 2022. Five responses were received, two were supportive of the listing and three were objecting. The report provided further information on the responses received.

The report indicated that whilst the nomination received referred to the entirety of the Allesley Hotel, the assessment undertaken found that only the more historic element of the property which immediately fronts the Birmingham Road is worthy of consideration for local listing. Internal works undertaken at the point of its conversion to a hotel use were understood to have further eroded some of the internal historic interest, notwithstanding this, some features of historic interest still remained.

The report concluded that it was accepted that the building’s evolution had eroded some of its historic interest, however, the frontage and form of the property is nevertheless seen to make its own distinctive contribution to the character of the wider Conservation Area, alongside which, further research in establishing the architectural history and family connections of the property may yield a further richness to the story of the site and property, and indeed therefore to the understanding and appreciation of the wider Conservation Area.

In recognition of this, the element of the former hotel fronting the Birmingham

Road is seen as a worthy addition to the local list of heritage assets, however later extension elements to the site’s interior are not considered to meet the necessary criteria for local listing. It was therefore suggested that a local listing designation be limited to the elements of built form contained within the red line as identified in plan area at paragraph 1.15 of the report.

Councillors J Birdi, T Jandu and S Keough, Bablake Ward Councillors attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the nomination. They raised the following matters:

·  Anti social behaviour and vandalism at the site

·  Residents’ concerns over the safety of children accessing the building

·  Lack of consultation with residents and Ward Councillors

·  Residents feel unsafe due to comings and goings at the site, often late at night

The Chair of the Allesley and Coundon Wedge Conservation Society attended the meeting and was given an opportunity to speak by the Cabinet Member. He stated that the site was not secure as the steel bollards blocking the entrance could easily be removed. The building was derelict with part of the roof missing and is a danger to the children who go in there. He questioned the value of the mock Tudor frontage commented that the residents considered it to be an eyesore. He referred to the lack of consultation and engagement in relation to the local listing as none of the residents were aware of it. He summed up by stating that the residents will do everything they could to ensure that the replacement building fits in with the conservation area.

Members present at the meeting questioned the consultation undertaken and whether the Ward Members were informed. They accepted that the building was derelict and that it was a safety risk to anyone who accesses it. They noted that there was no planning application for the site as yet, however, when one is submitted and consulted on, the residents would have an opportunity to comment.

The Cabinet Member, having considered the report and the representations made at the meeting was mindful of the residents’ concerns, but also mindful not to allow the state of the building to cloud his judgement. He understood the situation at the hotel and that it was an integral part of the village, however he questioned whether local listing was the right course of action. The Cabinet Member accepted that the site was going to prove to be a challenge to the developer regardless of the decision. The Cabinet Member indicated that he would welcome a meeting with the developer to discuss future plans for the site.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member, having considered the report and the representations made at the meeting, decided not to part-endorse the nomination for Allesley Hotel, Birmingham Road, to be added to the local list.