IT WILL soon be decision day on a proposal to build a controversial business-class hotel in the heart of Basingstoke.

Councillors will decide next week the fate of a plan submitted by Village Hotels which, if approved, would see a new 153-room, business class hotel built in Basing View.

The proposal has attracted controversy, but Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet members have stated the development would be a step in the right direction as part of Basing Views regeneration.

Councillors who sit on the development control committee will make a decision on whether to grant planning permission for the hotel at a meeting on Thursday, 9 May.

In a report to be put before councillors, council planning experts have recommenced the application is approved.

The report reads: “The proposed development is considered to form a positive opportunity at Basing View to provide a facility to complement the long-term regeneration of this part of the Borough as a 21st century business park.

“This would complement the mix of design and forms of buildings within Basing View and, having regard to the public interest, result in less than substantial harm upon the setting of Mountbatten House.”

Since the hotel proposal was first mooted, it has been met with some backlash, in particular what the financial impact the leisure facilities at the site would have on the charity-run Basingstoke Sports Centre.

Off the back of this, The Gazette launched a campaign in May 2017 to help raise awareness of the services at the centre and the risk posed by the hotel development.

A leisure impact assessment in the meeting report, carried out to survey how the proposal would effect the Sports Centre, reads: “It is identified that the users of the Village Hotel leisure facilities are expected to be drawn mainly from employees of Basing View due to the convenience of the location, whereby users of Basingstoke Sports Centre would have a wider catchment area and benefits would be generated from linked trips with Festival Place.

“The two facilities would also offer significant differences in differing leisure experiences with the Basingstoke Sports Centre being a larger premises and offering a wider range of swimming and gym facilities together with social activities.

“The conclusion of the independent assessment is that the proposed development is compliant with the Local Plan and would represent part of the mix of complementary uses necessary to maximise the regeneration potential of Basing View. It is also concluded that the Village Hotel would not have a significant adverse impact upon the Basingstoke Sports Centre by offering a different proposition in the market and thus would also retain the town centre as a vital and viable destination.”

The meeting, which is open to the public, takes place at the London Road council offices from 6.30pm.