A four-star hotel training school in Bournemouth could become a reality as Cabinet considers progressing legal agreements with the developer.
Cabinet members at Bournemouth Borough Council will meet on 26 January 2011 to examine the terms of the project and officers are recommending they kick-start legal agreements with developer, Chesham Estates.
The proposed development, which is part of the Town Centre Vision, includes; 200 bedrooms with associated parking, 105 new public car parking spaces, ‘bridging’ the BIC service road and linking to the BIC including a glazed feature in front of the BIC car park with escalator and lift access to hotel reception level. A widened and attractive tree-lined walk to the southern side of Priory Road, leisure facilities and training space for students are also put forward.
A planning application is due to be submitted by the developer in April 2011 and, if successful and providing funding is available, construction work could start as early as October this year. The project could be completed and open to the public by Autumn 2013.
Site operator, Intercontinental Group hopes to develop the hotel school under its four-star Holiday Inn brand and Bournemouth University and Bournemouth and Poole College will be responsible for the delivery of the training element of the project.
Councillor Ian Lancashire, Cabinet Member for Major Projects, said: "The hotel training school will be a huge economic boost for the town. It will be a fantastic facility for our student population who will be able to learn the skills required to run a four-star hotel. Ultimately this hotel school will safeguard excellence in our hospitality industry, protecting our reputation as a premier seaside destination.”
Background notes:
In June 2004 the Council agreed to work with the South West Redevelopment Agency (RDA) in the development of a new 200-bedroom four-star training hotel. Bournemouth University and Bournemouth and Poole College are jointly involved in the project.
The RDA acquired the former Winterbourne Hotel as its investment in the project which they subsequently transferred to the Council on the condition that the Council progress the development of a training hotel on the site.
The RDA ran a competitive tender and initially selected Dawnay Day as its preferred developer. Dawnay Day ran into financial difficulties in 2007 and so the under bidder, Chesham Estates was selected.
As part of the Council’s involvement in the project the Council is contributing land to the east and west (Beacon Road car park / former Georgian Cottage site) of the Winterbourne Hotel. In return, the developer will be providing the Council with 105 replacement car parking spaces.
Under the terms of the development agreement, the developer will apply for planning permission, raise finance (in the region of £40-45m) and enter into a lump sum fixed price design and build contract with a national building contractor.
Once the hotel is built the Council will grant a 125 year lease to the developer. The lease contains a restriction, which applies for the first 25 years, that the land can only be used as a training hotel.
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