Eyesore Craven Arms hotel faces demolition to make way for housing
A former hotel that has stood derelict in the heart of Craven Arms for decades may now be demolished and replaced with houses and flats.
The Temperance Hotel, a large white building in the centre of the town, would make way for five homes and 22 flats under plans put forward by town developers Neu Carbon Ltd.
The hotel has sat largely unused on the A49 main road for roughly 30 years, bar occasional use of part of the site as a temporary shop or offices during that time.
The Victorian building has fallen into a state of disrepair over the past decade as no-one came forward to take it on long-term.
The planned development consists of a main block with 18 one and two-bedroom flats, a smaller block of four flats and five three-bedroom terrace houses.
James Barron of Barron Edwards Planning and Architecture, acting as agent for the developers, said the development would improve life for existing residents in the area. He said it was ideal for houses being next to public amenities such as Craven Arms Community Centre, playing fields and a children's playing area.
Mr Barron said the site would include parking and the main block would include a cycle store, waste room and "feature area" in the lobby.
In a planning statement, he said: "The three-and-a-half storey building is respectful to the historical designs within Craven Arms and incorporates many positive features found in the two local conservation areas."
But he said modern design features such as large areas of glass, "clearly distinguish that this is a modern development reflective of the era in which it was built."
He added: "The terraced housing has been designed with natural slate roof tiles, brick arches, masonry window cills, porches with decorative fascia, brick quoin and window dormers in the front roof slope.
"Elements of this design can be found across Craven Arms and in our opinion results in a high quality finish.
"Overall we feel that this is a balanced development which both preserves and enhances existing facilities and services and will result in a better quality of life and amenity of existing residents," he said.
It was hoped the hotel, which was built in 1865, would be renovated into offices, a crèche, and a community drop-in and information centre by the former Shropshire County Council in 2003. But the plans fell through.
Afterwards it remained on the market for a number of years with no buyer.
The plans will be discussed by Craven Arms Town Council at a meeting tonight.
