Plans to convert the Victorian Alexa House guest house in Harrogate into seven apartments have been refused.
John Worthington, Harrogate Borough Council’s chief planner, said the development would not “contribute to local distinctiveness” and would harm local heritage.
The application also proposed to demolish existing extensions and outbuildings, create a rear extension and remodel the car park.
The guest house on Ripon Road is owned by Sandra Doherty, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, who plans to retire from hospitality but stay on at the chamber.
She told the Stray Ferret she was “really disappointed” with the decision and is considering appealing. She also questioned why it took the council six months to refuse the plans.
A council spokesman said:
“Planning applications can be delayed in their consideration for a number of reasons. In the case of this application, the applicants was advised that the proposal could not be supported as it stood and were given the option to withdrawn rather than it be refused.
“There had been a number of representations received opposed the application, along with the harm to the conservation area and neighbouring dwellings it would cause.
“The application was not withdrawn but subject to a minor modification seeking, and failing, to resolve its impact on one of the neighbouring properties. It was therefore refused.”
Read more:
How the apartments would have looked.
Harrogate Civic Society called the extensions and alterations to the guesthouse “bulky” but did not object to them.
Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.
It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s Spa and riding in the nearby countryside.
