Budget hotel plan for Gloucester eyesore Conway House
HOTEL plans for an "eye sore" could breathe new life into a struggling corner of Gloucester.
Conway House could be turned in to a hotel, if planners approve a change of use.
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The empty offices of Conway House.
DVS Property Ltd on behalf of Vaneli Investing Corporation wants to convert the former offices into an 80-bed budget hotel.
Conway House was built in the 1970s and has been home to Gloucestershire Training and Enterprise Council, The Link Group, and the Learning and Skills Council. But it has now been empty for six years.
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An application filed by DS Squared Architects outlines a design more in line with the street's 19th Century architecture, replacing large windows with a more traditional look.
"The design of the windows play a big part in assisting with the principle of turning this building from an eyesore to something that attempts to blend in," the application said.
Worcester Street has suffered a decline in recent times with several businesses moving out.
Steve Carr, manager of neighbouring Be Creative Furniture welcomed the application.
"Anything that brings more people down here has got to be good," he said.
Gloucester Civic Trust gave a cautious welcome to the application for the "incongruous building" in the Worcester Street Conservation Area.
"The use proposed would provide employment and assist tourism," it said in a statement. "The revised elevations remove the vast horizontal widows and provide window spaces of similar proportions to those of the 19th Century neighbours.
"The panel is concerned that there are too many budget hotels in Gloucester and would prefer a more upmarket hotel, with bigger rooms, in this location."
Comments
by CTFCScout
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 9:19PM
“If the building can have a new lease of life, then go for it!”
by i_am_robski
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 8:29PM
“i assume the blank out is for a naughty word where i have misspelt shut. do apoligise :)”
by i_am_robski
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 8:28PM
“usual TIG reporting, its been **** for 3 years, not 6, my wife was one of the last people in the building, so i know that much!”
by nottooserious
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 5:51PM
“Chartered Trust??”
by NibNobs
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 2:33PM
“Lloyds Bowmaker? or was it Lloyds & Scottish??”
by thomas1996
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 2:08PM
“Great idea - ideal for rugby fans as walking distance to Kingsholm... makes you wonder why no-one thought of a hotel before. I remember the building as a regional office for a finance company, they used to do lots of car loans in the 80's & 90's. Can't remember the name.”
by mikehibby
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 12:28PM
“Oh yes I remember that only too well! Bizarrely it was a great place to work, the people made it fun, but the building was a dump!”
by Steve062
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 12:28PM
“"prefer a more upmarket hotel" ? Has the panel not noticed the last 4+ years of global recession?
Whether you are visiting Gloucester for work or tourism, you are going to be using an affordable basic hotel.
The decision should be weighted towards what can work sustainably to keep the building in use - not the aspirational daydreams of the planning panel.”
by dcfc79
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 12:24PM
“mike I also thought it was the building by the leisure centre but its not, it would have to be a real budget hotel with the views you get of eastgate street especially on friday and saturday nights you get front row seats to view the fights that go on.
Its actually a good location on Worcester Street, those wanting to come for the rugby could stay the night before the match and visit some of the watering holes or view what the gloucester folk are like at night and never come back as they're too shocked.”
by sensible_sid
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 12:22PM
“Hi Mike H (as another ex-N Star employee from the mid 90s ..remember the Cogen Ring etc) the building shown isnt Eastgate House .. this is in Worcester St.. Your description of Eastgate St and surrounding environs strikes a chord ! ;-)”