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03
Jul
Harrogate’s derelict hotel: plans hint at site’s future use
A planning application for Harrogate’s derelict Kimberley Hotel has outlined plans to convert the site into an aparthotel with 39 serviced apartments.
Property developer Torsion Group said in April work to refurbish the 70-bedroom hotel on King’s Road would start this summer. But it declined to reveal what the site would be used for and work has yet to begin.
It has now emerged that Leeds-based real estate company Aire Investments Ltd submitted planning documents to North Yorkshire Council in April about the project.
One of the documents — a planning statement — says the proposal is to build 39 serviced apartments as part of an aparthotel.
The statement adds:
The proposed development is intended to provide high quality accommodation with the individual units being more less mirrored on each floor. Each apartment will consist of 1 or 2 no. bedrooms, bathroom, open plan kitchenette, dining and living area. There will also be a communal gym and a self-service laundry area at lower ground floor.
There will be no dedicated reception/bar or restaurant facilities within the building with bookings made online with guests then being able to gain entry to the building and individual apartments by way of an access code/ key safe box with any relevant access codes being provided prior to their stay. Cleaning and laundry will be provided at the end of a guests stay and whilst there will be no dedicated onsite reception facilities, a management team will be available to address any issues that may arise during the course of a guest’s stay.
The statement adds the “applicant proposes to carry out minor internal alterations only to the hotel rooms to enable them to provide kitchenette and reconfigured living space for the hotel guests” and no external changes to the building are proposed.
Planning consent was granted in 2018 to convert the hotel into five homes, nine flats and two garage blocks. But it was never implemented.
The latest plans submitted in April were for a certificate of lawfulness, which would mean planning permission for the aparthotel project would not be required because there would be no material change in use of the site.
However, the certificate of lawfulness application was withdrawn last week. No reason has been given. The Stray Ferret has contacted Torsion Group for an update on the project but has not had a response.
Inside the hotel after the fire in 2023. Picture: Harrogate Fire Station.
The Kimberley Hotel, close to Harrogate Convention Centre, was a prominent part of the town’s hospitality scene until it closed in December 2020. It has been derelict since.
The empty building suffered an arson attack in 2023 and police subsequently implemented a plan to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on site. The plan closed the following year after officers deemed it to be a success.
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