Councillors Disagree Over ‘Prison Block’ Premier Inn Planning Proposal

Published on: 1 May, 2026
Updated on: 1 May, 2026

Plans for 74-bedroom addition at Premier Inn, Guildford Road, Farnham Waverley Borough Council

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

A “monolithic” four-storey “block akin to a prison block at Broadmoor” will tower over the gateway to Farnham, a councillor said, after plans for a hotel on the former Beefeater site were approved.

In its place will stand a new 74-bed Premier Inn hotel that will form part of a larger complex.

The application was approved by Waverley Borough Council’s April Planning Committee by seven votes to four.

The addition will be about 3.8 metres taller than the existing Premier Inn and 4.23 metres higher than the Beefeater.

The proposed building would consist of two wings in an L-shaped plan, partially on the Beefeater – with supporters saying a new hotel shows confidence in the town.

The main guest entrance will face the existing Premier Inn building, a few metres to the south.

When combined it will provide a total of 128 rooms across the two buildings of the expanded hotel.

Cllr George Hesse

Cllr George Hess, (Farnham Residents, Farnham Castle) said: “I do not object in principle to this hotel being extended but I absolutely do object to the current proposed design and layout.

“As you approach this very important eastern gateway into Farnham, that is the Guildford Road approaching from Shepherd & Flock roundabout, the first building on your right is the historic Grade II listed Bourne Mill, then on your left is the Bourne Mill recycling centre screened by lots of trees.

“What is before you tonight is an application for a monolithic four-storey accommodation block akin to a prison block at Broadmoor, towering over the Guildford Road.

“It can hardly be called an annex as it’s bigger than the host building.”

He added: “To justify the proposed design, the application references the Premier Inn at South Mimms, Potters Bar, which is a truck stop just off the M1, which could not be more dramatically different from historic Farnham.”

He called for the building to be moved to the rear of the site away from the road, with car parking to the front lined with trees.