Formal plan submitted to demolish Lincoln’s House of Fraser

Lincoln’s House of Fraser would be demolished to build a 150-room, four-star hotel, under formal plans submitted to City of Lincoln Council.

Landlord, Halifax Pension Nominees Limited, revealed initial proposals for the building back in November in response to the “ongoing uncertainty” over the future of the store.

There are no official proposals to shut the department store at the time of writing, but developers say its future closure is likely.

Now, the developers have submitted formal proposals to flatten the store and erect three buildings between two to five storey in height.

Proposed designs for the four-star hotel on the House of Fraser site in Lincoln.

St Peter’s Passage, which the city council closed earlier this year, would also be reopened and enhanced.

A restaurant, bar and leisure facilities is included in the plan, as well as commercial space onto the High Street.

Pavements around the building will be widened.

The hotel would be accessed via Mint Street and the retail units via High Street.

A view of the hotel from the High Street.

The developers said the proposal would help to “benefit surround retail” and tourism in the city.

In its plans, it said: “The proposed development also provides a new strong retail offer, in modern, purpose built accommodation facing High Street.

“Designed flexibly, it allows for the space to be sub-divided into several tenancies to respond to the market demand.”

A courtyard is proposed as part of the plans for a hotel on the House of Fraser site.

At a consultation event held in November, residents said the hotel would improve the city centre.

Mike Kent noted the building would look very similar to the current department store.

“Lincoln’s a great city, people are coming to see it we’ve got to have somewhere to put them,” he said.

The proposed entrance for the four-star hotel in the city centre.

Meanwhile, Andrea Cooper said: “What we’ve got to offer with the Christmas Market and the historic part of Lincoln, you always struggle to get in. I’ve got family that come over and they always struggle to get into Lincoln.”

The city council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

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