Esher is to lose one of its most historically important buildings after the Government confirmed today it would call in for review a planning application that will see the demolition of 18th century Moore Place.
Moore Place Holdings submitted plans earlier this year to build a 50-bedroom hotel with 78 car parking spaces and a bar and restaurant on green belt land next to Moore Place along the Portsmouth Road.
The developers will now knock down the boarded up building, recently known as Esteem, which has been painted purple and described as an "eyesore", and build the new hotel further back.
Although the application was given planning permission by councillors at a meeting this month, the final decision was referred to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), as it contravened the council’s development plan which does not allow for building on greenbelt land.
However, GOSE informed the council today it would not be holding up proceedings, giving the green light for developers to carrying out their plans.
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