South Holland District Council gives green light to turn Sutton Bridge’s grot spot Bridge Hotel into flats

Planners have approved an application for a derelict hotel to be turned into flats.

The Bridge Inn Hotel in Sutton Bridge last used in 2008 has been an eyesore in the village for years - but now South Holland District Council has given the green light to develop the grot spot into 15 flats.

Rob Bridgewater and Jamie Sandford of API Investments are behind the project — and planners ruled there are ‘no significant factors’ that outweigh the benefits of developing this landmark site.

An officer’s report said the revamp of the Bridge Hotel would ‘contribute to the vitality and viability of Sutton Bridge through increased footfall’.

It added: “The adaptive reuse of this building would also have character benefits and would offer the building, which is a well-established fixtures a future purpose and a continued contribution to the area.”

The scheme includes 12 car parking spaces - a concern which led Sutton Bridge parish councillors writing to the developers.

Cllr Chris Brewis said: “I think there is inadequate parking with it which might affect the surrounding businesses.

“I have got my doubts about whether it is sustainable - I think it is unlikely that people will only have one car.

“I once said if I won the lottery I would have demolished it and had an orchard on the site.”

A letter of response from Mr Bridgewater and Mr Sandford said that the parking allocation would remain at 12 spaces.

Last July residents keen for the grot spot to be repurposed got together to air their concerns about negativity regarding the potential development.

At the time resident Barbara Almey said: “If we can't allow somebody to repurpose the hotel we are never going to move forward.

“We are going to be stuck and there seem to be so many negative thoughts with regards to this development.”

“We have been described as a deprived area so why make things difficult?”

The eyesore building has attracted vandalism and graffiti during its years of neglect and dilapidation so residents were thrilled about the fact that flats may attract younger people to remain in the village and boost its fortunes.

Lincolnshire County Council’s education department said there are sufficient places to cater for any children living in the flats in nearby schools. The NHS wants £9,900 to go towards healthcare services.

The design of the new flats includes a cycle storage room at basement level and basements associated with some of the units along with a bin store accessed through a private drive.

Officers’ planning decision that ‘the site is located in a central urban area where services and facilities are within a reasonable distance to be accessed via sustainable travel options such as walking, cycling and public transport’.

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