Planners could give green light to hotel plans at Salomons Estate

Planners at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council were set to agree plans for a new hotel tonight, but the meeting has been deferred. Plans have been submitted to build a 56-room hotel at Salomons Estate, owned by Markerstudy Group. Construction would require the demolition of two accommodation blocks built in the walled garden in the 1970s.They are currently used to provide accommodation for people attending training courses and events.The hotel would be situated near the back end of the site, in Broomhill Road, where a 19th century greenhouse previously sat.The building would include en-suite, double bedrooms across three floors – two of which would be below ground to comply with height limitations. Development would also include a restaurant with 70 covers serving hotel guests. The application was originally submitted to the council in 2013 but has been delayed due to concerns over the potential cumulative impact of the proposal with others for the estate – notably the Father Christmas World application which was unanimously refused. The application site comprises the main access off Broomhill Road, the walled garden to the north-east of the main house and the parking area and internal site roads to the south.The building would be set into a slope to give the illusion of a single storey building when approached from the main house, water tower and folly.