Developer may save part of old hotel
A developer yesterday hinted that he would save part of a historic hotel after submitting a third planning application in the space of a year.The owner of the redundant Anchor Hotel in Thetford, which was featured in the first episode of the Dad's Army television show, wants to turn the site into a courtyard housing and shopping development.
A developer yesterday hinted that he would save part of a historic hotel after submitting a third planning application in the space of a year.
The owner of the redundant Anchor Hotel in Thetford, which was featured in the first episode of the Dad's Army television show, wants to turn the site into a courtyard housing and shopping development.
Hertfordshire-based Zog II has already submitted two planning applications to create 1,000sqm of retail space and 24 flats - one involving total demolition of the Bridge Street building and the other involving partial conversion.
But Mark Lahiff yesterday said the company now planned to keep the 18th century part of the hotel after submitting proposals to knock down the late 20th century section.
The developer said he was expecting Breckland Council to approve all their planning applications by the end of the summer. He added that the 1960s extension had fallen into a state of disrepair, but he would “most likely” opt to retain the older part of the hotel for conversion.
Stuart Wright, chairman of the Thetford Society, who runs the popular Dad's Army tours, welcomed the latest news on the derelict building.
Most Read
- 1 First-time publicans transform their local and are already winning awards
- 2 More F-35 squadrons to be stationed in Suffolk to boost US presence
- 3 Seven Suffolk villages that have received national recognition
- 4 Remarkable life of the Duleep Singhs explored in new exhibition
- 5 Pair accused of dangerous driving on A11 set for court
- 6 Try roasties topped with pulled pork at town’s new street food business
- 7 What the average Norfolk house price can buy you in the county's towns
- 8 Suffolk records sunniest June in nearly 50 years
- 9 Chase Star to perform at Thetford comedy club
- 10 Woman in her 50s who died in A11 crash named locally
“We would like to see as much of the Anchor retained as possible and a sympathetic conversion to keep a bit of character in the town,” he said.