Client runs out of room on land – Walsingham Planning provide the solution – Use the sea!

Walsingham Planning act for Whitbread Group Plc on their Premier Inn estate and had achieved full use of the existing marina PI site in Hartlepool with an extension to the bedroom block in 2003. The success of the extended hotel made Whitbread want to expand even further, but the site was too small.

Undaunted, the project team developed the solution of a floating hotel bedroom block in the marina itself.

Council planning policy was against such innovation, but early meetings identified the concerns and Walsingham Planning were able to persuade the planners as to the advantages of the scheme.

The eventual planning application required extensive accompanying documentation and there was much to explain about a floating building concept new to the UK. This is the very first floating hotel of its kind in the country.

The bedrooms float up and down with the marina levels, but are constrained by sleeved piles into the marina bed, so there is none of the movement that might cause problems to guests.

There is full easy access into the rooms, including access for disabled guests, from the quayside.

Initial concerns about flooding and impact on the marine environment have been overcome to the extent that Newcastle University became enthusiastic supporters of the scheme.

This scheme gives Walsingham Planning unique experience in overcoming the planning issues associated with this innovative type of development which has potential for use in residential, student housing, office, prison and many other sectors where there are land based sites constrained from future expansion that are adjacent to a body of water.

There are also some very exciting opportunities for development of areas previously blighted by flood risk.