£30m new Blackpool hotel set for go ahead despite fears over parking and traffic - and unmade beds

A £30m new hotel on Blackpool Promenade is poised to get the go-ahead - with conditions including that messy bedrooms are not on full display.

Blackpool Council's planning committee is being recommended to approve an application by the Singapore-based Fragrance Group to build a 143-bedroom hotel on a site between The Promenade, Woodfield Street, St Chad’s Road and Bolton Street.

The former St Chad's Hotel, which had stood on the land, was demolished in May 2023 to make way for the new investment.

But concerns have been raised about proposed floor-to-ceiling windows which means messy bedrooms could be on view to people strolling down the Prom.

A council planning report warns: "Floor-to-ceiling windows are very popular in modern buildings, particularly in new hotels and other forms of residential accommodation.

"However, these allow the internal contents of the hotel rooms, such as unmade beds, to be viewed from the street. Based on experience elsewhere in Blackpool, this could detract significantly from the appearance of the building, particularly on such a prominent position on the Promenade."

It means planning approval will include a condition that obscure film is attached to the lower section of any full-length windows.

A total of 14 objections have been received to the planning application from properties including on Woodfield Road, Wellington Road, and St Chad's Road. Concerns include the lack of parking, with only 28 parking spaces proposed, increased traffic congestion and the height of the new building leading to loss of light at nearby properties.

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Talks with town hall planners have led to the application being reduced to 143 bedrooms within a five and six-storey building, compared to initial proposals for 184 rooms in a seven-storey block. Planning officers say it is now common for Promenade hotels to offer only limited parking, with guests expected to use nearby public car parks or public transport.

A report to the committee, which is due to meet on Tuesday, April 9, says: "The proposed hotel would be well designed and would help to regenerate this area of the Promenade and the wider resort as a tourism destination, and this weighs significantly in favour of the scheme.

"The scale of the building would have no greater impact on residential and visitor amenities of surrounding properties that St Chad's Terrace which previously occupied the site. On-site car parking would be limited but managed and the site is in a highly accessible location."

All the hotel bedrooms would be on the upper floors with a bar and restaurant on the ground floor.