After four days of hearing evidence a public enquiry which could cost the Croydon Council up to £100,000 has closed.
Last June the council turned down plans for a hotel extension in Crystal Palace for the second time.
Euro Hotels Ltd, want to demolish existing buildings at the centre of the site and build an extension which would create a total of 495 rooms, an increase of 160 to the current hotel, as well as 207 parking places.
The owners appealed the decision made by the council which means it is up to the government’s planning inspectorate to make a final decision on the plans.
On Friday morning, planning inspector Mike Robins heard from Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood councillors as well as Croydon North MP, Steve Reed.
Mr Reed was up first, making clear that the area has a distinct character with residents seeing themselves as separate from London and Croydon.
He added that the proposed development would be overbearing on Regency Garden which neighbours the site.
“Residents are very proud of it and they have community events there,” said the Labour and Co-operative MP.
“One of the very sad aspects of the development is the size of the hotel will be overbearing of that important community space and it will overlook the area.”
Councillor Nina Degrads told the inquiry that she has lived in the area her whole life and thinks the development would impact negatively on the conservation area.
She also said that an increase of coaches to the hotel would mean air quality in Crystal Palace would become worse.
Councillor Pat Ryan, a ward councillor for 27 years, said: “We aren’t against development but we want it to be responsible and respectful of the conservation area.”
He described the Victorian hotel as beautiful and said he did not think the current plans added to or retained this beauty.
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Planning inspector Mr Robins took a site visit to the hotel before coming back to hear the closing statements of all parties in the afternoon.
Matthew Henderson spoke on behalf of a group of residents.
He said the proposed scheme impacts on the character of the conservation area.
The residents claim that the development would have a “severe impact on local parking capacity” with more guests trying to park on streets nearby.
Closing his statement he said that the the reception of the plans from local businesses had been mixed.
Stephen Morgan representing the council said both applications had been turned down on heritage and highways grounds.
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He said that because transport links in the area are not that close by, it will put stress on parking in the area and impact on safety on the roads around the hotel.
Rupert Warren QC said the hotel has how been franchised as a Best Western.
He outlined why he thought it wrong that Croydon Council’s planning committee went against officers recommendations to reject the plans.
He said: “It is the densest development in the area and different from Victorian developments in the area and post war infill.
“The hotel is identified as unique, landmark building in the conservation site.
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“The 1970’s infill is criticised for it’s bulk.
“It is retained in the schemes but it’s impact on the area would be transformed by remodelling. ”
He added that changes would be a major improvement in the Church Road frontage of the hotel.
The planning inspector will now make a decision on whether the appeal should be allowed based on the evidence heard over the four days.
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