‘It’s like Wembley Stadium,’ cry neighbours as Harry Redknapp plans to demolish hotel to build new complex
HARRY Redknapp has angered residents with his plan to demolish a seaside hotel and replace it with flats “the size of Wembley Stadium”.
The “architecturally important” Elstead Hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset, is set to be bulldozed and turned into a five-storey Art Deco-style building with 59 apartments.
Pierfront Developments, of which ex-Spurs manager Rednapp and his wife Sandra are listed as directors, are advertising the flats for between £200,000 and £300,000 each.
But dozens of residents have slammed the project as “money-grabbing” and claim the scale of the development is comparable to “something the size of Wembley stadium”.
They say the balconies will overlook their gardens and “encroach on their privacy”.
The local NHS Trust also has concerns about the pressure on health services caused by the sudden increase in the local population.
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If the development is allowed to go ahead 45 members of staff at the hotel will lose their jobs, more than half of which are full-time.
I fear we are losing our historical cultural heritage which is being replaced by mass build flats using inferior building materials to maximise profits.
Local resident John Hill
Local resident John Hill said: "The height of the proposed construction is comparable to something the size of Wembley football stadium with all the new terraces overlooking the rear gardens and bedrooms of the nearby houses and their privacy will be no more.”
He added: "It would be tragic to lose the Elstead Hotel as it is an historically and architecturally important Bournemouth landmark going back to the turn of the late Victorian era.
"I fear we are losing our historical cultural heritage which is being replaced by mass build flats using inferior building materials to maximise profits.”
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'ENCROACH ON MY PRIVACY'
Christine Brown, another local resident, said: "This development will block the sun and plunge my house and garden into darkness.
"The balconies will overlook my garden and encroach on my privacy.”
Dr Colin Davidson, writing on behalf of the NHS, said: "This increase in population will impact on the local NHS resources.”
Despite the objections, Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council planning officials have recommended the planning application be approved.
Pierfront Developments is run by Harry and Sandra Redknapp's eldest son, Mark, who is Jamie Redknapp's older brother.
In their planning statement, planners Chapman Lily said the scheme has been “carefully conceived to maintain a good relationship with neighbouring properties”.
A design and access statement on behalf of Pierfront Developments says: "The proposal presents a sustainable form of development, contributing to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Bournemouth.”
The Sun Online has contacted Pierfront Developments and representatives of Mr Redknapp for comment.
