Mandolay Hotel front view. Photo Emily Dalton

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

A popular Guildford hotel is to build a 27-bedroom extension in a move it is hoped will support town centre businesses. Described as a “large and prominent building”, the Mandolay Hotel on London Road is a family-owned business which has been running for 25 years. 

Planning permission was granted for a further extension of the hotel at a Guildford Borough Council meeting on Wednesday (April 24). The application builds on the previously approved 2015 scheme but with an addition of five more bedrooms to bring it more in line with the needs of the hotel.

The Mandolay Hotel has proposed a two-storey back extension to the hotel and another two-storey extension to the rear of the coach house. Some residents have dubbed it a “three-storey development” as some of the additional hotel bedrooms will be provided in the roof.

Cllr Howard Smith

Cllr Howard Smith (Lab, Westborough) said: “This is a popular hotel and a local business.

“I hear a lot of comments about how we’re short of hotel bedrooms. It is something that is required for the town centre and [its] prosperity.”

Frequent concerns raised by the music venue G-Live cited a shortage of hotel rooms in Guildford that meant they could not host large events and conferences.

Cllr Maddy Redpath

Cllr Maddy Redpath (R4GV, Castle) said other businesses in the town centre would benefit from the support that extra hotel bedrooms would provide.

“It’s that balance between supporting a business that needs this growth, which is a planning [consideration], and weighing up the impact on the residents,” Cllr Dominique Williams (Lib Dem, Shalford) said.

Cllr Dominique Williams

Over 20 residents objected to the application, claiming it would be an “overdevelopment” and create a “concrete jungle”. Concerns were raised surrounding the “narrow” access to the site and how construction would be managed, and requests made that the application should be refused until further details are provided.

The committee heard that, as with any accepted development, a construction plan would be created to mitigate the impact on residents and road users. Planning officers explained there is an “inevitability of traffic and noise” during construction but it is temporary.

Mandolay Hotel side view. Photo Emily Dalton

A statement from Dr Kate Relph was read at the meeting and cited a 2004 development that saw a temporary access road being built behind Waterden Road. Not only did this disturb the neighbours, the historical crinkle crankle wall (built in serpentine shape) had been partially “removed”. No planning permission was applied for and a retrospective application was refused.

Whilst not a designated heritage asset in its own right, the crinkle crankle wall is described in conservation terms as “a rare feature and should be preserved”. Planning documents state that the wall would be protected within the hotel’s plans as the proposed development would enable the existing landscaping around it to be retained.

The application was granted 11 votes for and one against.

The officer’s report can be read here.