£15m Hilton hotel granted planning permission

A £15 million Hilton hotel was today a step closer to being built in Wolverhampton city centre after the project was granted planning permission.

City councillors unanimously backed proposals for the landmark Fox Hotel in School Street to be knocked down and replaced by the 133-room seven storey building.

Council leader Councillor Neville Patten told the planning committee, which approvede the scheme yesterday: "This will act as a catalyst to the continued regeneration of the city.

"It is a quality development by a quality company. Everything associated with it will benefit the city."

Councillor Judith Rowley added: "I will be very pleased to see the back of the Fox Hotel. It is a 1960s monstrosity of no architectural merit whatsoever. This will be a very positive move at a very important gateway to the city."

Councillor Carl Husted added: "We are busting a gut to get people to invest in Wolverhampton and the Hilton Hotel would be a very welcome addition to the city."

The Campaign for Real Ale was the only official objector to the plan. Its spokesman Jim Laws told the committee: "The Fox Hotel has a bar that is used by the general public and this community meeting place will be lost if the building is demolished."

He also complained that no adequate parking was planned for guests of the proposed Hilton hotel and insisted: "It will be aimed at up market customers who will expect a high level of facilities including dedicated car parking spaces."

Council officers explained that the site, which overlooks the Penn Road Island at Ring Road St Marks, was part of land allocated for redevelopment. They also pointed out that it was common for UK city centre hotels not to have dedicated parking.

Councillor Patten added: "There are already a number of pubs in the close vicinity that are quite well used. " There is also a nearby city council open air car park that might be utilised.

The 33-bed Fox Hotel has been on the School Street site for more than 40 years and work is scheduled to start its replacement next spring after its demolition.