AN applicatin to turn The Lythe Hill Hotel into a luxury ‘destinationa venue’ has received full support from the town council.

The application was considered by Haslemere Town Council’s planning and highways committee and members voted unanimously to support the plans.

A statement issued to Waverley Borough Council, which will have to approve the plans before they can go ahead, said: “Haslemere Town Council advocates a scheme that seeks to add value to the town.”

The proposed development – including a permanent store of a dozen classic cars which guests can hire to tour the South Downs National Park – would provide a destination venue and would encourage a number of people who would not normally visit the town.

“Haslemere is a gateway to the South Downs National Park and to have such a facility would sit well with this status and links could be made between the two,” the council said.

Members were also “extremely pleased” to learn of the 100 new jobs the conversion project would create.

“It is an extremely exciting prospect that would go some way to improving the economy of Haslemere,” the statement added.

Lythe Hill is part of the China UCF Group, who acquired the small hotel last year, having bought Old Thorns Hotel from Martin Shaw, in 2013.

The proposals include a new wedding and conferencing venue, featuring a luxury spa, series of restaurants including a small fine dining restaurant, which will aspire to a Michelin Star, a brasserie, lounge bar, spa bar, with an increase in the number of bedrooms.

Group business development director Neil Drinkwater told The Herald: “We consider Lythe Hill to be a community project that will bring new business and job opportunities to the area and ultimately become the hub of the community.

“The proposed classic car store will hold a dozen vehicles, which can be hired as part of a package by guests who wish to explore the surrounding countryside.

“We also hope to replicate this concept across the other sister hotels within the group so guests can drive the cars from one hotel to another.

“Although the proposals are an expansion of the existing buildings, most of it will be completely hidden from the road and built into the landscape as there is a natural slope at the back of the site.

“We have a fantastic team of export consultants who have helped us put the plans together, which are sympathetic to the surrounding countryside, coherent and well thought out.’

Mr Drinkwater is very proud of the meticulous restoration been carried out on the Tudor frontage of the grade II listed hotel.

He said: “It has taken almost six months for specialists and experts to restore the solid oak beams, which were close to crumbling.

“This was deemed as emergency repair work and we have been told conditions were so bad, the whole building was close to collapsing. Despite the high costs, we were keen to return the Tudor building back to its original glory.

“We have already spent in the region of £3.5million on improvements at Lythe Hill, which include the restoration costs, new kitchens, a new bar, a new reception, room refurbishments and many other hidden costs.

“We are also determined not to close the hotel for any renovation works and have included a temporary application for 22 eco-pods, which are proving to be very popular at Old Thorns, as well as a marquee, so that guests can be accommodated.”

A public consultation is due to be held at Lythe Hill before Easter, which will show the proposals including a three-dimensional visual image of the resort.

Plans include the erection of new buildings in eight phases together with associated parking and demolition of existing extension and outbuildings, a roof to open the courtyard area, a new wedding and conference building, extensions to the existing gym and spa building as well as extensions to provide a restaurant and bedroom wing and a new building to house staff accommodation.

Required parking is likely to increase as a result of the proposal and plans show alterations to the current arrangements siting them away from the main buildings, to the south of the hotel.

Lythe Hill, which boasts stunning views across the South Downs, has operated for many years as a country house hotel and enjoyed much success as a wedding venue, and tourist destination.

But it has been making a loss in recent times and is in need of a substantial financial injection to make it viable, according to its new owners, who are keen to regenerate and re-establish the hotel as a successful business and, major employer in the area.

Lythe Hill is set in extensive grounds of some five hectares in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Area of Great Landscape Value, with views over National Trust land featuring footpaths and marked trails.

The listed Tudor building contains the existing restaurant and a number of bedrooms. The complex also includes the Lythe Hill Spa, under the same ownership.