A proposal to build a green metal-clad nine storey hotel in Wimbledon town centre has been approved, despite receiving almost 100 objections from residents.

Whitbread will be building the 176 bedroom Premier Inn with restaurant facilities on the site of the former Henry J Beans bar and job centre in the Broadway after it was approved by a Merton Council planning committee meeting on Thursday, August 11.

Feb 16: Revealed: Plans for a 176 bedroom Premier Inn hotel in Wimbledon

Plans to build two new family homes behind the hotel on Griffiths Road are still awaiting approval.

The hotel, which will have just four disabled parking bays and 13 cycle spaces plus a parking bay for contractors, is described in the planning documents as adopting ‘a modern design approach with a palette of materials that includes buff brick, stone, coloured metal cladding and glazing’.

However, cabinet member for children’s services and councillor for Abbey ward, Councillor Katy Neep, said there were real concerns over the design of the building.

Cllr Neep said: “The main concerns from residents were really about the metal cladding which is going to be used. There has been some mitigation in some of the plans, but there’s still quite a lot that we are concerned about in terms of design.

Wimbledon Times:

The current site

“It’s apparent that site does need redevelopment. What’s there now isn’t great, and no one is against the fact that it’s a hotel being built, but we want to make sure that what is built there will reflect what is essentially the gateway to Wimbledon.”

Chairman of residents’ group Friends of Wimbledon Town Centre, Krystal Miller, said she believed Merton Council needed to give better guidelines as to what “good design” was in planning applications. 

Ms Miller said: “I wasn’t surprised but I was still disappointed.

 “The green metal panels are just completely out of keeping. The town centre is a mess at the moment, all the buildings are too different. Sadly it all looks really disconnected and this will make it even worse.”

Whitbread's Development Manager, Owen Ellender, said: "We are delighted with the council's decision, which supports the approach we have taken towards the redevelopment of the site. 

"We have consulted widely with the local community from the moment we first announced the project, including meetings with local residents and a wide range of business and community stakeholders. 

"These consultations made an essential contribution to the final design. As a result of feedback received, we amended the plans to use a much greater proportion of brick, helping the hotel to better complement surrounding buildings.

"We look forward to starting work on site as soon as possible in early 2017 and will consult closely with the local community and our neighbours before work starts to make them aware of the construction timetable and to ensure that any disruption is minimised."

In response to a consultation on the original plans, 92 objections were received including from the Wimbledon East Hillside Residents Association, the South Wimbledon Community Association, Love Wimbledon, Cllr Neep and Councillor Charlie Chirico. Just three letters of support were received.

The updated and approved proposals have reduced the amount of metal cladding on the building that was outlined in the original proposals, and now state that the parts of the hotel closest to Griffiths Road will be made of brick, with the ‘surround and returns of the Broadway façade’ being built with brick, with stone used at ground floor level.

Planning approval has already been given to plans to knock down The Slug pub in Hartfield Road and build a 140 room hotel with no car parking, as well as approval for plans to sell the Broadway Carpark to developers.

June 3: New Wimbledon Theatre carpark will be sold to developers without restriction on its use

July 22: Town centre hotel will replace The Slug pub in Wimbledon town centre

Friends of Wimbledon Town Centre have launched a survey into what sort of developments residents want to see in the town. To take part, click here

What do you think? Email letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk