New plan for Ilfracombe’s Collingwood hotel

NEW plans have been submitted by pub chain JD Wetherspoon to demolish Ilfracombe’s derelict Collingwood Hotel and replace it with a brand new pub, hotel and restaurant.

The company gained permission in 2008 to redevelop the prominent Victorian building but now says too much time and money would be needed to make it sound again.

The new application seeks to create a new fit for purpose building “of equal prominence and architectural quality.�

The conceptual drawings for the new scheme show a tiered “Art Deco� style building with a balcony area around the first floor in a “stand alone� design.

The building was hit by fire in 2007 and a survey carried out by Harrison Ince Architects for JD Wetherspoon concludes that with extensive fire damage to the rear and other structural problems “a large amount of time and capital� would be needed to put it right.

It is proposed the new hotel, pub and restaurant would be of similar height to the existing Collingwood, of high quality and enhancing the character of the seafront.

Ilfracombe Town Council’s planning committee chairman Rod Donovan said the new application was a welcome move by Wetherspoon:

“Certainly the design seems to be in favour with the general feeling in Ilfracombe,� he said.

“It will be a great asset to the seafront and will certainly continue with our regeneration of the town.�

The original Wetherspoon application had proposed to create some 50 jobs for the town.