Lichfield Planning was appointed to lead a team of talented designers and professionals to progress an aspiration for a new high quality waterfront hotel within the centre of Lincoln.  The site, along Brayford Wharf North opposite the Lincoln University campus on Brayford Pool has been vacant and derelict for well over 20 years.

Recognising the sensitivity of the site and its location as a foreground to the Cathedral crowned hillside that typifies the character of Lincoln a great deal of care has been taken and extensive pre-application discussions undertaken which have included the active input of local amenity and interest groups as well as engaging with the CABE Urban Design review Process.

The result has been the design of a superb new building extending to 6 storeys and which will accommodate a total of 97 bedrooms and 8 suites as well as, crucially, much needed conference and events space that the centre of Lincoln is so short of. The proposals also include a health and fitness facility that will be open to the general public, again a much needed facility that the centre of Lincoln cannot currently offer.

Whilst the existing derelict structures are of some local interest in that they are the last remaining buildings relating to Brayford’s industrial past their extremely poor condition and lack of relevance to the modern day townscape has meant that there has been no interest in retaining and reusing them despite extensive marketing of the opportunity over many years.  This proposal will ensure that the ornate doorway to the office building and the foundation stone to the works extension are retained and incorporated into an interpretation exhibition within the new hotel lobby.

The development also makes provision for a more positive relationship to neighbouring property and land uses as and when adjacent development opportunities are realised - including the prospect of more direct access to Newland.