A Coventry hotel ravaged by fire could be demolished to make way for new housing developments
Coventry: A hotel that’s seen better days is in the spotlight. The old Allesley Hotel, which suffered two massive fires last year, might be torn down. Developers, Avant Homes, are eyeing the spot to build 62 new homes.
This hotel isn’t just any building; it has roots going back to the early 1800s. It’s part of the local history, but those fires in February and May really did a number on it. Most of the inside features are gone, according to planning documents.
What’s left of the hotel isn’t in great shape either. A report mentioned that many fixtures and fittings are either lost or too damaged to save. The historic parts that remain have seen better days, too, with most altered or decayed over time.
Remember when the fires made headlines? Police confirmed they were arson attacks, and there had been several reports of deliberate fires at the hotel before it closed in 2022.
It’s not just the fires that caused trouble. A survey revealed the hotel has faced at least three arson attacks and a lot of vandalism. Thieves have even stripped materials from the roof, and broken windows are a common sight.
The building is in pretty rough shape. Floors and stairs are rotting, and there’s damp and mold everywhere. Rooms are filled with junk, and overall, it’s damaged beyond repair. Surveyors think knocking it down is the best option.
The Allesley Hotel was mostly remodeled in the early 1900s and turned into a hotel in the 1950s. It even got a big extension in the 1970s. The whole site is in a local conservation area, so special permission is needed for any demolition.
Developers argue that the building has “limited significance” now, especially after the fires. They plan to replace it with a block of flats that matches the size and style of the area. Most locals seem to support the redevelopment, according to surveys and discussions.
Of course, there are some concerns about access and parking, but the developers are standing by their plans. If everything goes through, we could see 44 houses and 18 flats popping up on that land.
For those interested, more details about the project can be found on the council planning portal under reference: PL/2024/0002270/FULM.
