Surrey asylum hotel 'could return to community use' with £10m revamp
The proposals would see the hotel modernised and refurbished to serve business and leisure guests
Plans to return the Stanwell Hotel to community use have been revealed alongside a massive £10m investment.
The proposals would see the hotel modernised and refurbished to serve business and leisure guests, including travellers using Heathrow Airport.
Asylum seekers currently staying at the hotel will be expected to move out if planning permission is granted, the local democracy reporting service understands.
The Home Office have previously said it is committed to ending hotels for asylum seekers and is working towards alternative accommodation.
The scheme would upgrade the current hotel building on Town Lane and increase the number of rooms from 56 to 96. Plans include extending the roof of the original building and adding a single-storey extension.
Developers say the improvements are designed to bring the hotel up to modern standards and secure its future as part of the village economy.
Stanwell and Stanwell Moor Councillor, Robert Evans OBE said the proposals could bring clear benefits for the area. “If the planning application is approved, the Stanwell Hotel will be relaunched as part of a well-known global chain,” he said. “This can only be good news for Stanwell and local people.”
The hotel is currently operated by Splendid Hospitality Group under the Mercure brand, but if planning permission is agreed and the hotel is upgraded, the property could potentially operate under the franchise of another well-known hotel brand.
Councillors have met recently with the hotel owners to discuss the plans and said the asylum seekers currently staying at the hotel are expected to move out shortly, subject to planning permission being approved by Spelthorne Borough Council.
If the application is approved, the hotel will be rebranded under a well-known global chain and reopened with a new look and name.
Cllr Jon Button said the owners had ambitious plans for the site. “The owners have real aspirations for this hotel,” he said. Councillors said the project could also create new jobs for local residents.
Cllr Sean Beatty said the reopening would bring permanent roles in the hospitality sector. “This will bring good local employment for the people of Stanwell,” he said.
“When the hotel reopens there will be a range of permanent hospitality jobs with a top hotel chain.” He added that there could also be short-term employment opportunities during the renovation works.
Splendid Hospitality Group currently operates the hotel under the Mercure brand and runs more than 20 hotels across the UK, employing over 2,500 people.
Its portfolio includes partnerships with international brands such as Hilton, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Accor.
Stanwell Hotel neighbours will shortly receive a leaflet detailing the new plans for the property, inviting them to give their views in a consultation until March 25. No planning application has been submitted yet.