The appellants had submitted a sequential analysis of centres within a catchment based on travellers using the M69, M6, A46 and M40. They claimed that siting the hotel in the city centre would be ineffective in serving these transport corridors. The inspector agreed that city centre locations were unlikely to be attractive to prospective customers because they would face delays and inconvenience driving in and out and restricted on-site parking.
In that light, she found that it would not be appropriate to consider such sites as suitable alternatives. The same applied to two district centres that would entail significant diversions from the transport corridors, she held. In allowing the appeal, she saw no requirement under the NPPF for elements of the scheme to be disaggregated, noting that bars and fitness centres are not uncommon in hotels. Neither had the council provided information to contradict the appellant’s impact assessment, she found.
Inspector: Jillian Rann; Written representations
