Unoccupied site in Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow to be regenerated with new hotel and car park
How the new Travelodge may look (computer generated impression).
A scheme to create new jobs, boost the local economy and help to alleviate parking issues and congestion on Globe Business Park in Marlow has taken a step forward.
The scheme involves the construction of a new hotel and a decked car park to transform a derelict site in Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow. It is part of a joined up project between Wycombe District Council, Travelodge and The Marlow Club.
This week Travelodge submitted a standalone planning application for an 83 bed hotel, Bar/Café and its own dedicated car park with 66 spaces on one half of the site. The hotel would open by the end of 2018 if planning permission is granted.
Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director at Travelodge, said: ‘We have identified a shortage of good quality budget accommodation in Marlow and are delighted to have submitted this exciting project for approval.
The submission is the culmination of months of hard work in liaison with the council to deliver our element of the comprehensive redevelopment of this brownfield site.
The day time parking issues are well known to us and we believe our hotel can sit happily alongside the neighbouring uses and provide a valuable and much needed facility for not only Globe Park businesses but visitors to the area from further afield.‘
On the other half of the site The Marlow Club is finalising its proposals for the development of a decked car park.
The Marlow Club’s application is expected to be submitted by the end of August 2017. It is a separate application to the Travelodge proposal with the two applications subject to the full independent planning process and not reliant on one another.
Jon Williams, Chief Operating Officer at The Marlow Club, says: ‘The lack of available parking is an issue for many businesses operating on Globe Park.
Working in partnership with the council, we very much hope that this will help to alleviate some of those issues by creating a permanent parking solution.
Plans are in the process of being finalised and we will be able to say more once our planning application has been submitted, all being well, by the end of August [2017].‘
A vacant industrial building which formerly stood on the site was demolished by the landowner, Wycombe District Council, in 2016. Wycombe District Council also obtained planning approval for a surface car park with 102 spaces.
However the surface car park would be superseded by The Marlow Club’s decked car park proposal should it obtain planning permission.
Wycombe District Council will provide an access road to serve the new look site.
Cllr Steve Broadbent, Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: ‘This really would be a win-win for everyone – a new Travelodge creates new jobs and would provide additional rooms at an affordable rate to businesses and tourists looking to explore Marlow and the district.
The decked car-park would help members of The Marlow Club and provide additional spaces to nearby businesses, which in turn will help to reduce the amount of vehicles parked on the roadside making it easier for people – in particular delivery drivers in large lorries – to navigate their way around the business park.
This scheme is part of a bigger jigsaw puzzle to improve the business park, as we look to bring in investment and address some of the parking and congestion issues.‘
The council is also working with Buckinghamshire County Council and the Globe Park Business Improvement District on a number of options for additional parking, improved signage and double yellow lines for some roads on the business park.
