Proposals for the regeneration of the sensitive and beautiful site at the former Lee Bay Hotel in North Devon received unanimous approval at a recent North Devon Council Planning Committee.
The site, owned by Acorn Property Group, is in a coastal protection zone, conservation area and AONB. Extensive consultation with the local community helped evolve proposals to arrive at a scheme that respects and regenerates the existing Arts and Crafts hotel building whilst sensitively adding interesting buildings into the valley landscape.
Designed by award-winning consultancy Nash Partnership, the scheme includes 17 apartments of varying size which will occupy the newly refurbished and extended hotel building. In addition, four new contemporary detached dwellings are designed to sit on the valley sides and work with the wooded topography while integrating with green roofs and dark timber cladding.
A new café building, designed to be built in stages as interest in its offer grows, heads up a newly formatted public car park which gives access to the site’s wider grounds.
The scheme was designed to achieve a large increase in biodiversity, which will be done by:
- Opening culverts to create new streams and planted banks
- Removing invasive species (including Knotweed)
- New planting
- Sustainable drainage
- Creating large meadow areas
The site’s unique setting and protective cove mean it is well suited to launching kayaks. Through its regeneration, the local community will have better access to the grounds and coastline for landing boats and water sports.
Commenting on the permission, Daniel Lugsden from Nash Partnership said: “Having grown up in and around this area, it’s a particularly important site for me. The local community has played a key role in helping shape the final design, and our client Acorn has been patient in arriving at the right scheme. We can’t wait to see this evolve to detail design and hope this important and beautiful location will become a key part of the South West Coast Path tourism route. I look forward to sitting in the new café once it is successfully delivered and sharing a glass or two as we gaze at the horizon across the bay.”
Duncan Powell, Acorn Group Planning Director, said: “We are overjoyed to receive planning for such an exciting and innovative scheme. The proposals have taken many years of detailed engagement with the Council, locals and key third parties, and the end result is a delicate and sensitive response to the unique character of the valley and its surroundings. I’d like to thank Nash, particularly Dan and his team, for his tireless efforts in progressing and resolving the scheme.”
