Hotel unveils plan for spa and extra bedrooms

A scheme to create a luxury spa and health club and an additional 35 bedrooms at a County Durham hotel have been unveiled.Hardwick Hall Hotel near Sedgefield is currently awaiting planning permission for the £13m scheme. If successful work will begin late 2023.The scheme will rejuvenate buildings that have been derelict for more than 60 years, as well as creating 140 temporary construction jobs and 63 new full and part-time jobs once completed.The spa development will include a 25m swimming pool, a gym, aerobics studio, spa bath house, thermal suite a swim in/swim out pool and spa garden.It will also offer 13 treatment rooms, relaxation areas, changing facilities and a restaurant with private dining options.The application includes a proposal for an additional 35 bedrooms which will be built on two storeys in the style of a coach house around a courtyard which will also house the main spa pool.There will be 33 premier rooms, with Juliet balconies on the upper level and private garden space for the ground floor along with two large suites.The designs have been created to ensure they are in keeping with the existing look of the hotel with materials having been “carefully selected to be sympathetic to and complement the existing hotel and setting”.John Adamson, owner of Ramside Estates, said: “The proposed development supports Visit County Durham ambition to increase the visitor economy while also adding to more beds for visitors to the county.”It will be a flagship development for the area which will absolutely create more awareness and drive more visitors which is positive not just for the hotel but for the county as a whole.”