Former care home on Scarborough South Bay to become holiday accommodation despite dozens of objections

Plans for a ‘large apartment-hotel’ for self-catering holiday occupation in the former Mayfair Residential Home at Esplanade, Scarborough, have been approved.

A similar plan to convert the 19th Century property was refused in November but the Aspire Group’s amended proposal has been approved despite residents’ concerns about its impact on the area.

The accommodation will be made up of 16 one-bed apartments and three two-bed self-catering apartments with bathroom and kitchen facilities.

One of the single-bed units on the ground floor will be used by the night-time site manager.

The scheme was previously rejected after council officers raised concerns about the proposed “technological monitoring system” instead of a manned reception.

However, the applicant said it had addressed these concerns with the addition of a reception area and onsite management accommodation “ensuring round-the-clock monitoring”.

Planning officers noted that important amendments had been made including the addition of a “physical supervisory presence” that will be on-site Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and seven days a week from 9pm to 9am.

Staff will also be present at other times on weekends and weekdays in addition to on-site quarters for a manager as well as an office.

The council received no letters of support from members of the public whilst 26 letters of objection were sent to the authority.

The objections included concerns about “customer access, an increase in traffic, limited light to some rooms, an increase in parking pressures, the potential for street congregation, and small room sizes”.

Neither the Highway Authority nor the council’s environmental health team objected to the scheme.

The Aspire Group’s application said: “It is believed that any prior concerns raised by the planning authority have been effectively addressed and resolved.”

The applicant said that it will implement on-site supervision via a reception desk and a holiday accommodation management team that will be present during “office hours”.

Located within Scarborough’s conservation area, the new holiday accommodation is located near the South Cliff Gardens, Holbeck Gardens, and Italian Gardens.

Planning officers concluded that the plan would not “unduly harm the residential amenities of neighbouring properties” and it was approved subject to conditions.