A 114-year-old Sidmouth seafront hotel will gain a second lift shaft to serve its 64 bedrooms if a planning application is approved.
The four-star Victoria Hotel was built in 1903 as Sidmouth’s first purpose-built hotel.
Plans from owner Brend Hotels, which also has the adjacent Belmont, say it has recognised the need to invest in the Victoria to ensure its long-term viability.
The new five-storey lift will be near the centre of the hotel, replacing an unattractive laundry chute and enabling the planned maintenance of the original lift, the use of which is too heavy for the current demand. According to the application, alternative locations have been considered, but the disruption to services and customers was considered excessive.
It will ‘significantly’ improve access for customers and staff, particularly in case of a breakdown of the original elevator.
East Devon District Council will decide the fate of the application.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here