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South Lynn: Councillors back ‘hideous’ hotel plan
BUILDING work on a new hotel, pub and shop on the NORA site in South Lynn could start in the spring after councillors approved the plans this week.
Permission for a Travelodge and Greene King pub was granted by the West Norfolk Council’s planning committee on Monday, even though one of its members described the hotel plans as “hideous”.
The decisions means the application for a 68-bedroom hotel, Hungry Horse pub and a retail unit is one of the first projects to go ahead on the former lorry park.
It is now hoped builders will go onto the site, close to the Southgates roundabout, in May with the pub and hotel opening in the autumn. A total of 70 jobs will be created at the pub and hotel.
And developers Equity Estates now hope to attract a tenant for the shop once the plans were approved.
Chief executive Alastair Thomas said: “We are very delighted and pleased that the council has approved our scheme. We have worked very hard to get to this point.
“There is an awful lot going on in Lynn. It is a vibrant town.”
But, during the meeting, Desmond Waite said he was worried about the impact the development would have on the historic South Gate and the nearby conservation area.
He said: “There is nothing wrong with the Travelodge proposal but it might be better sited on Hardwick Road.”
And committee member Zipha Christopher slammed the design of the hotel, branding it as a “prison block”.
She said: “This building is ugly. I know it follows the corporate Travelodge design but it really is hideous. This is the most important entrance to the town.”
The £5 million development will be known as Kellard Place.
The scheme, which has taken more than 10 years and £60 million of public money, is council-led and aims to create a new community for people to live and work in South Lynn.
The project aims to overhaul the swathe of land between Wisbech Road, the Horsley Fields Industrial Estate and Saddlebow Road.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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