“Former Bristol jail set to become a new eco-housing development”

Scarborough Councillors Approve Proposal to Develop Former Swimming Pool into Hotel

Background

After a year-long discussion, councillors in Scarborough have given their wholehearted approval to a plan to develop the town’s former indoor swimming pool site as a major four-star hotel. Members of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Constituency Committee have given North Yorkshire Council the green light to move forward with the proposal. Once the plan is approved by the council’s executive committee, the site will be on the market via a competitive tender process by the end of September 2023.

This proposal comes after a plan by local businessman Nick Thomas MBE to develop the site into a £15m, four-star hotel fell through almost a year ago due to criticism from the then-North Yorkshire County Council, which would have had to approve the sale.

Significance of the Proposal

The development of the former Scarborough swimming pool into a major hotel is an innovative idea that could potentially generate significant economic benefits for the town. According to the council, the originally proposed scheme could have delivered £15m of private sector investment, created over 100 jobs with living wage salaries, and increased visitor spending by approximately £3.4m a year, thus leading to the overall growth of the town.

The expedient delivery of the scheme would provide “direct economic benefits through job creation, hospitality sector diversification, and growth”. The report presented to the committee indicates that there is significant interest in the site for the purposes of high-quality hotel development and delivering the North Bay master plan remains a key strategic focus for the future growth and prosperity of the town.

Committee Response to the Proposal

The councillors praised the authority for its openness and transparency in handling the proposal and expressed their hope that this time the development goes through without a hitch. Councillor Heather Phillips welcomed the new proposal and commended the council’s treatment of this proposal as a good market approach. She also called for the council to include locals in consultations about the project and the council officers have given an “absolute commitment to engage locally”.

Editorial and Advice

The development of the former Scarborough swimming pool into a major hotel is a good sign for the economy of the town. The town could benefit significantly from the creation of job opportunities, hospitality sector diversification and growth. It is important for the council to fulfil their commitment to engage locally and include local people in consultations if the project proceeds. The development should also take environmental considerations into account so that the community could reap the benefits without compromising the environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the development of the former Scarborough swimming pool as a major hotel is a positive step towards economic growth and prosperity for the town. The plan has received the wholehearted approval of councillors, and the project is expected to be on the market via a competitive tender process by the end of September 2023. The council must ensure that environmental concerns are taken into account and local people are included in the development process.