Premier Inn extension at Eureka Park, Ashford, blocked by council over pollution fears
Plans for a three-storey extension to meet growing demand at a Premier Inn have been refused over pollution fears.
Bosses wanted to add 13 rooms and a new breakfast area to the hotel at Eureka Leisure Park in Kennington, Ashford.
Planning officers have refused plans for an extension at the Premier Inn in Eureka Park, Ashford
The proposals followed owner Whitbread's decision to close the neighbouring Beefeater restaurant next month as it looks to move food and drink services inside the hotel with a new breakfast bar.
Documents submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) by Premier Inn said the company had identified “a considerable demand” for additional budget hotel accommodation in this location.
Planning officers concluded the extension was acceptable but ultimately refused it because the company failed to demonstrate it would not increase nutrient pollution affecting the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve near Canterbury.
The protected beauty spot has been affected by wastewater run-off from developments across east Kent, leading to elevated levels of harmful nitrate and phosphate.
As a result, rules set down by Natural England insist developers must ensure all schemes in the River Stour catchment area are “nutrient neutral” - either by having an on-site water treatment facility or offsetting the impact by providing mitigation measures elsewhere, such as wetland.
Owners Whitbread wanted to expand the Premier Inn at Eureka Park to meet growing demand for budget hotel accommodation
The officer’s report states: “The proposed extension is considered acceptable in principle and would not give rise to any unacceptable impacts.
“It would provide additional visitor accommodation in a sustainable location and would contribute to the local economy.
“However, the site lies within the Stodmarsh catchment and the proposal would result in additional overnight accommodation and associated wastewater generation.
“In the absence of adequate information demonstrating nutrient neutrality, we are unable to ascertain the development would not adversely affect the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve.”
The extension would have contained 18 bedrooms, although five existing ground-floor rooms would have been converted into the new breakfast area, resulting in a net increase of 13 rooms.
The new area would have been attached to the northern end of the hotel, extending out to the east via a corridor link at each floor.
The Beefeater restaurant at Eureka Park, which sits next to the Premier Inn, is to close
The total number of rooms at the hotel would have reached 105, and to facilitate the extra guests, an extension of the car park to 125 spaces was also included.
The hotel joins a number of other businesses on Eureka Leisure Park, including Travelodge, McDonald's, KFC, Frankie & Benny's, Nando's, Pizza Hut and Cineworld.
Earlier this year, Whitbread announced it would close its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre outlets, replacing them with an “integrated food and drink model” at its Premier Inn hotels.
The move put about 3,800 jobs at risk across the UK and Ireland, with 11 restaurants in Kent affected.
The Eureka Park Beefeater will close after dinner service on September 10.
The scheme, which also includes 10 flats, was originally backed in principle in 2022 but could not receive formal approval until mitigation measures had been secured.
Whitbread has been contacted for comment.
