Hurst Green hotel plan approved

Developers Kepwick Investments Limited have been given the green-light by planning bosses at Rother District Council to turn the Grade II listed Ockham House at Silverhill into a 16 bedroom hotel.

The approval is subject to a number of planning conditions, along with any conditions which may be imposed by the Highways Agency.

The plans include a kitchen, staff dining, accommodation, caretakers, a hairdresser, reception, great hall, quiet room, two lounges and an office on the ground floor, 10 bedrooms and en suite bathrooms on the first floor and six bedrooms, bathrooms, rest rooms, male and female treatment rooms, store and plant room on the second floor.

The plans also include 31 car parking spaces.

Planning permission was previously granted for the change of use and conversion of Ockham House to a hotel but the permission expired.

Rother said as planning circumstances had not materially changed, a refusal of planning permission would not be justified.

In their decision, the planning committee said the development would increase facilities for visitors and tourism in the district and would potentially benefit the economic vitality of the rural area.

The committee added that the proposed conversion to a hotel would cause minimal impact upon the historic listed building and surrounding area.