Hotel plans for Manor refused
Datchet: Supporters and objectors clash over proposals
A proposal to convert the historic Ditton Manor near Datchet into a hotel has been refused by the council.
At a Windsor and Ascot development management committee meeting on Thursday, councillors aired both objections and support after officers recommended refusing the application.
The application by the Ditton Park Property Unit Trust was also refused at a similar meeting in October 2023 and amendments to the proposal were made before being brought to council once more.
Several councillors spoke in favour of the application including cabinet member for communities and leisure councillor Joshua Reynolds (Lib Dem, Furze Platt) who cited ‘meetings and events’ as a key source of revenue for the council.
He said: “It's disappointing that even though… improvements have been made ,[ the application] has come back for refusal with more reasons for refusal than before, some of which seems to be totally new despite no material change in that area.
“For me there are many benefits of the scheme: improved public access for walking and cycling, the new health and fitness facility… helping Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury have that proper fitness and health facility which they so desperately need, restoration of the Chapel, the new scout Hut for the sea scouts.”
He also referenced the economic benefit of 100 jobs being created and ‘boosting’ the local meetings and events industry as well as the visitor economy.
“Let's not forget long-term investment in maintaining and improving this site to preserve it for the future. We can't risk this not being built and not having this preserved for the future,” he added.
Councillor Ewan Larcombe (National Flood Prevention Party, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury) added it was a ‘realistic solution’ in the circumstances as the site ‘needs to generate an income’.
Councillor Reynolds also spoke in favour of granting listed building consent for the site and added: “The original manor house was designed as a house and this is no longer possible.
“We could keep things the same, not make any changes to this building or any of our listed buildings and many would fall into disrepair. There isn't too much demand for a manor house in 2024,” he said.
“This is a way for the council to preserve the building, preserve the heritage asset and yes make adjustments, but keep it well maintained, keep it in use in occupation and keep it for many years to come.”
However, the application site being built on the greenbelt continued to be a key area of concern for councillors, with suggestions that approving a development on the greenbelt would set a precedent for future applications in the borough.
Councillor Julian Sharpe (Con, Ascot and Sunninghill) said: “I love the idea of a flourishing hotel. It sounds like a great little business but it's in the wrong place because it's in greenbelt.
“As soon as you start saying it's all right to do this, what we are doing here is driving a coach and horses through the greenbelt policy throughout the borough. This is not just about this specific site it's about how we can manage the greenbelt throughout the borough.”
Resident Suki Ray also spoke against the application and described the proposal as ‘a huge intensification of the buildings and the use of the greenbelt and protected sites’.
She said: “The footprint of the marquee, the bedroom block, the scouts' hut, the spa, the gym and the car park is massive and it looks to be about 6 to 8 times the footprint of the Manor.
“Do the residents not deserve a reasonable measure of peace and quiet in their homes at the weekends or after work?”
The motion to refuse planning permission was proposed by Councillor Sharpe and seconded by independent councillor Carole Da Costa (WWRA) with five votes against four in favour of refusal.