Wall murals put hotel conversion plans on hold

Published on 27th July 2006 in News

Three planning applications relating to the creation of 18 apartments and two town houses on the site of the Lowther Hotel in Goole have been put on hold this week by members of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council?s Planning Committee.

Meeting at Beverley on Tuesday afternoon, members of the planning committee firstly decided to defer two applications, both for permission to make alterations to the existing building and permission for listed building consent to make alterations, until outstanding consultation responses have been submitted from public protection and conservation officers.

The applications were submitted by Mitre Taverns Ltd., and would create 12 apartments in the building that has been vacant for two years, as well as two three-bedroom town houses in the attached former store buildings.

The overall proposal has been looked upon favourably by all other groups consulted, but there has been a delay in reporting the applications to the committee because a set of historically significant murals have been found painted on some of the internal walls on the first floor.

English Heritage has suggested that the best surviving murals should be kept on full view in ?Muriel?s Room?, but that the poorer quality murals in the hallway and kitchen area should be recorded and then protected by independent wall and ceiling construction to prevent damage.

Members of the planning committee also deferred a third application from Mitre Taverns relating to full planning permission for a further six apartments in the courtyard area behind the hotel, until a number of outstanding consultation replies have been received.

A similar outline scheme to erect three houses was refused in January this year by the East Riding Council because of concerns about the potential impact on the adjacent listed hotel.

However, the current application seeks to overcome these concerns by retaining the dominance of the Lowther Hotel.

The application relating to the erection of six apartments in the rear courtyard was discussed at a recent meeting of Goole Town Council, and was looked upon favourably. It was believed that the overall proposal is a positive one that should benefit the building, the town centre and the people of Goole.

Cllr Jane Marsden said: ?When work on that part of town is completed, the apartments will be an ideal site for the people living there.?