August 2, 2019 9.51 am This story is over 55 months old

Controversial Grange and Links hotel plans passed

Councillors felt the new plans would “bring vibrancy to the area”

A new “colonial” hotel in Sandilands is set to be built after the owners were finally given approval by councillors, despite residents’ concerns it would not match the surrounding area.

East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee gave the go ahead to the plans for the Grange and Links Hotel, which will see the existing hotel building – closed since September last year – demolished and replaced with a new 20-bed facility with nine apartments, spa, gym and swimming pool.

Another building would include 12 holiday apartments with space on the ground floor for retail and commercial space.

The plans had been turned down previously due to the design and having too many houses attached – something the applicants say they need to pay for the hotel rebuild.

objectors said the hotel would “impact massively on the street scene and its arts and crafts style building” and argued against the need for housing.

Developers 3XB Holdings provided viability assessments in support of housing need.

Neil Reynolds, from the developers, said the hotel’s design would “lift the area and bring new life”.

An up-to-date layout of the plans, featuring the fewer houses.

“It will re-establish the former hotel’s role as a community hub,” he said.

A recent appeal was lost by the new owners, but the latest application before councillors included fewer houses than the previous one – 13 instead of 20.

Ward councillor Helen Matthews said that since the closure of the hotel the area had become a “gloomy place”.

“Our reputation as a unique coastal attraction has suffered,” she said.

She supported  the plans as a “future for Sandilands with a high quality offer.”

Councillor Neil Jones said the area had “gone downhill considerably” since its glory days and that it “needs something special”.

“That building, I think looks lovely… If it needs 13 houses, lets build 13 houses.”

“This is something that will bring back vibrancy to the area.”

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