New hotel approved in tourist 'honeypot' of Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast

Plans to convert two self-catering holiday cottages and a former hospitality premises known as the Greenhouse to form a single hotel in Bamburgh were approved on Thursday.

The hotel will be situated on Front Street, close to the existing Victoria Hotel. There was significant opposition in the village due to concerns over parking, with the existing car parks and streets already busy during peak times.

Speaking at the North Area planning committee on behalf of the owners of the Victoria Hotel, agent Jonathan Hazell pointed out the Victoria was forced to provide eight extra spaces when it submitted plans in 2008 for eight new rooms, while the new six-bed hotel would have just three on-street spaces.

He added: “Parking problems in the village are now significantly worse than in 2008. This would have a dramatic and detrimental impact on highways safety and detrimental impact on local parking.”

John Mackey of Bamburgh Parish Council also spoke to object, describing the car parking situation in the village as ‘critical’.

He added: “I have no doubt that everybody in this room has visited Bamburgh in the recent past and know that the working is a major problem for residents and visitors.

“Parking issues have significantly worsened in recent years, particularly since the pandemic. At peak times, all parking bays are full and multiple vehicles park on double yellow lines in the village.”

Applicant Richard Shell said that he ‘fully understood’ the issues around parking but that there was available parking within walking distance.

He said: “Parking issues are not caused by a lack of parking, but by people trying to avoid paying to park. We plan to operate a clear and managed parking strategy, getting visitors and guests to use paid car parks and busing staff in.

“People will continue to visit Bamburgh whether or not this application goes ahead or not.”

The plans were recommended for approval by council planners.

Cllr Trevor Thorne, proposing approval, said: “Bamburgh is a great draw for the tourism industry. It’s got the coastline, the beautiful castle and a very attractive set of buildings.

“It’s a real honeypot as far as tourism goes. With that brings the problem of where people are going to park, but I think our local county councillor, together with the council and the parish council, are trying hard to find solutions.

“The critical thing with this application is the management plan. The applicant has strategies for getting staff to work and advising visitors to the hotel where to park.

“I’m confident he will work with us to make this work. I think it will be good for Bamburgh.”