PLANS to build a 60-bed hotel at Warwick Castle are set to get the green-light.
Merlin Entertainments, which runs the historic castle, wants to build a two-storey hotel on part of the Stratford Road car park near the current Knight’s Village – which offers visitors lodge accommodation and glamping tents during the summer.
The design of the hotel is proposed to tie in with the Knight’s Village, proposing a medieval themed rough cast render with timber cladding and timber shingle roof tiles.
Warwick District Council planning committee has been recommended to grant permission, subject to conditions, when it considers the application next Wednesday (May 4).
The application also includes an extension to the existing restaurant at Knight’s Village and new decked areas, elevated walkway, landscaping works and an outdoor play area.
Warwick Town Council is backing the plans, saying it is a positive move for the future of the castle and the town.
It is happy the design has been “sensitively thought through”, while also highlighting a lack of accommodation in Warwick
Historic England has also dropped its previous environmental objections after concerns regarding landscaping were addressed.
And Warwick District Council conservation department also agreed there was a “clear justification and business case” for the plans.
There were a number of concerns, including from residents, highlighting a danger of over-development of the site, the impact on “important views” and the impact on the environment.
