Alton Towers have placed a planning application with Staffordshire planning authorities for the ‘development and extension to an existing hotel’. The plans also cover the demolition of the existing spa conservatory.The specific plans replace the previously approved Alton Towers Hotel extension. While these plans are still classed as an extension it appears to be more of a separate hotel with its own reception area and adjacent parking. The building will link with the existing Alton Towers Hotel building around the current Spa and then run behind the Alton Towers Hotel lake.
Alton Towers hotel expansion plans, set to start construction in February 2016 (Photo from TowersStreet.com)
The extension is to be four storeys high, the same as the current hotel with room access via two lifts. The new extension will have a total of 74 rooms sleeping 5 to 6 people in each.
63 of these will be standard rooms, with a further 3 which will be disabled accessible.
These are planned to consist of:
• A main room with a double bed and small seating area
• A bathroom including a bath with shower
• A separate sleeping area for children that contains a bunk bed with a truckle bed below that can be pulled out if needed.
Alton Towers hotel expansion plans, set to start construction in February 2016 (Photo from TowersStreet.com)
There will also be 6 suites, 2 of which will be disabled accessible. These will also offer the same double and bunk beds as the standard rooms, with the addition sofa bed – therefore potentially sleeping up to 7.
Overall the hotel extension will increase the resorts room offering by 14%. Although there are no extensive details on the interiors of the rooms, the windows of the bedrooms have been made bigger in comparison to the previous application. The planning documents state this is to suit the hotel’s ‘premium’ offering.
Alton Towers hotel expansion plans, set to start construction in February 2016 (Photo from TowersStreet.com)
The building will have two new food and beverage areas: a new buffet restaurant for 204 guests, this will overlook a new ‘sunken’ garden near the lake, and a separate bar/cafe area that includes its own entertainment area. Both of these are to be located on the ground floor level with a double height ceiling.
It is understood that construction of the hotel will commence in February 2016 with expected handover in June 2017. The hotel is then anticipated to be open to the public by the summer of 2017.
