NEW JOBS AS HOTEL’S SPA GIVEN GO-AHEAD
Residents supporting plans says it’s a ‘fantastic addition’
A POPULAR hotel has been told it can build a new garden spa and swimming pool.
The Manor House Hotel, in Alsager, had applied to Cheshire East Council to extend the existing premises.
The family-run hotel says the new extension would link up with the existing Audley Road facility, giving customers a better choice of treatments.
In a statement to the council, the hotel said: “The Spa concept differs from most hotel spas in utilising both internal and external spaces, forming a journey through contrasting environments.
“The courtyard and garden elements are key to the success of the spa. Within the garden, herbs and aromatic plants will form living elements which can be incorporated into treatments and thermal experiences.
“Within the courtyard there will be a more ‘controlled’ space, including the vitality pool and two additional thermal experiences.
“There will be areas for relaxation, eating and drinking and even treatments separated by low level planting boxes, again containing specially selected plant species to promote health and wellbeing.”
The application says the hotel currently has no spa facilities and bosses believe they are required in order for it to ‘remain competitive’ in the local market.
Facilities at the proposed spa would include treatment rooms, a sleep and relaxation lounge, an indoor lounge, and a manicure and pedicure lounge.
Cheshire East received two objections to the development, but 19 Alsager residents wrote in supporting the extension.
One Audley Road resident said: “This would be a fantastic addition to our local hotel. It makes the town more interesting with people outside of the county, who I know would fall in love with our little town as soon
as they visited and that’s a way to entice people to come and visit.
“I can’t see how it could cause obstruction to our town.”
Another added: “I support this proposal. It would be jobs created for the builders and then for the staff working at the hotel.
“It will be more money into the economy, plus it will be great to have a spa in Alsager.”
Despite a reduction in the number of parking spaces from 154 to 96, planners felt there would be no issues. The scheme would also create up to 15 new jobs.
A Cheshire East report stated: “The proposed development is acceptable in principle and is of a satisfactory design that would not have a detrimental impact upon neighbouring amenity, ecology or trees.”