New hotel on the way
A new budget hotel is planned at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford. A new budget hotel is planned at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford. The scale of the hotel proposed for the former Wolseley Garden Park site, off Lichfield Road, has been reduced by applicant Adrian Seabridge, managing director of Stafford-based Seabridge Developments Ltd. The new application involves building a 35-bedroom hotel with a pub and restaurant and car parks on the site on the edge of Cannock Chase and next to the River Trent. The developers were given outline permission for a 31-bedroom hotel in 2001 and two years ago submitted an application for a hotel of double that number of bedrooms. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, which has its headquarters adjoining the site of the proposed hotel, has previously called for work to reduce the risk of flooding to be carried out if it goes ahead. Read the full story in the Express & Star
A new budget hotel is planned at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford.
The scale of the hotel proposed for the former Wolseley Garden Park site, off Lichfield Road, has been reduced by applicant Adrian Seabridge, managing director of Stafford-based Seabridge Developments Ltd.
The new application involves building a 35-bedroom hotel with a pub and restaurant and car parks on the site on the edge of Cannock Chase and next to the River Trent.
The developers were given outline permission for a 31-bedroom hotel in 2001 and two years ago submitted an application for a hotel of double that number of bedrooms.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, which has its headquarters adjoining the site of the proposed hotel, has previously called for work to reduce the risk of flooding to be carried out if it goes ahead.
The new application for what is described as "a budget hotel" was submitted to Stafford Borough Council on May 21 and the council has begun consultation with neighbours.
No date for when the development control committee will consider the plan has yet been set.
The scheme to build the new hotel follows the loss of The Garth Hotel in Stafford, a site which is now being redeveloped for housing.
Stafford Tourism Bureau has been encouraging the development of more accommodation in the borough, to encourage people to visit the area and sample its attractions.
Councillor Doug Davis, Stafford Borough Council's cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: "We always welcome more tourist facilities in the district and there is a shortage of good quality hotels in the area.
"So we welcome the proposals, but the scheme will obviously have to go through the normal planning process."
The Wildlife Trust bought 26 of the 45 acres of the former Wolseley Garden Park for the development of its £1.5m county headquarters.
The park had closed in 1991 and the trust raised £100,000 through a public appeal to enable its project to go ahead.
The Wolseley Centre opened in 2003 and has proved a major tourist attraction.
