DETAILED plans have been submitted to transform Haslemere’s ‘very tired’ Georgian Hotel, by means of an ‘enabling’ residential development in the grounds.

Full consent is sought for the renovation of the landmark grade II listed High Street hotel, which dates back to the 18th century, funded by a change of use to an apartments block for the rear extension, currently comprising 33 bedrooms and a spa, and the erection of three mews cottages on the overspill car park.

The ‘enabling’ residential development will raise £2million to fund a sensitive interior redesign and upgrade of the historic main building, to create an upmarket boutique hotel with a ‘destination’ restaurant to match.

Five families rescued the hotel from administration last August.

It was the second time in three years. The Georgian had gone into administration and previous owner Mark McVeigh, who is also part of the new consortium, warned the future of the business depended on the new scheme being backed by the community.

Urging the importance of the upgrade in supporting documents, the hotel is decribed as ‘very tired’and in need of a ‘significant overhaul,’ noting that responses to the public consultation on the proposed makeover, held in December, were that The Georgian needed to ‘lift its offering.’

“The overall objective of the proposal is to secure a viable future for the historic hotel through its renovation and rationalisation,” the supporting planning statement said. “The need for the development proposals has arisen from the difficulties faced in running and operating a large hotel and food and beverage business, which have resulted in the two previous owners being forced into administration.

“Despite its location, the hotel has been struggling to operate a viable business in its current form. The long-term future of the building, in particular its continued operation as a hotel, is reliant upon a revitalised offer being made.”

A total of 16 flats are proposed for the apartments block, comprising two one-bed flats, 11 two-beds, and three three-beds. The three mews cottages will each have four bedrooms.

The historic main buiding, originally known as ‘The White House’, forms three storeys with additional attic space.

Also part of the grade II listing, is a two-storey former stable building.

The site has been operating as a hotel since the 1920s. In more recent times, it has also provided conference, restaurant and spa facilities, but in March 2017, the business went in to administration for the second time in three years.

The proposals would see the listed buildings revamped internally to create a boutique hotel with 12-ensuite bedrooms and the restaurant upgraded to become a more stylish venue to complement the more luxurious hotel redesign.

A new entrance to the restaurant will be created from the High Street utilising an existing door into thel courtyard.

The entrance will be framed by the historic chestnut tree, which forms an important part of the conservation area.

The restaurant will offer locally sourced produce with potential for private dining to cater for business meetings, weddings or other special occasions.

New ‘unifying’ window and doors are proposed for the rear of the restaurant to open out onto a new, raised terrace, which will overlook the enhanced garden area.

An existing door will be utilised to provide access into the bar area where the original fireplaces will be restored to working order.

The hope is the restaurant will be an attractive venue for residents as well as hotel patrons, providing ‘superior quality’ but accessible pricing for midweek lunches and midweek evening dining.

Loyal spa members, who have been using the fitness facility since it opened in 2000, were saddened by the news the centre would go to enable the rear extension to become an aprtments block.

Mr McVeigh, said it was a ‘difficult decision’ to take but the enabling development depended on porviding new residential accommodation, which he believed Haslemere needed.

Calling for community support for the proposals, he said: “The most important thing to us is local support. If we don’t get the backing of the community, there is no point proceeding with the plan.

“We want the hotel to be amazing and Haslemere needs a landmark destination to draw more people in.

“The hotel has failed twice and that’s something that needs to change. But we need to raise £2million to make it work. This is the last throw of the dice.

“We have no choice but to close the spa in order to make the scheme work. Sometimes in business you have to take hard decisions.

“We have got some wonderfully loyal spa members, but it is run down and losing a huge amount of money and we can’t afford to carry that loss.

“The hotel extension is also under-utilised with 40 per cent occupancy, so we don’t need the rooms at the back.”

Haslemere Society chairman Jane Stopford-Russell welcomed the proposals at the consulation event.

She said: “The society played an important role in retaining the building as an hotel when it changed ownership some 20 years ago, and is keen to see its role at the heart of the community retained and enhanced.

“The building, itself, is of historical interest and a dominant feature of the town.”