'Struggling' hotel to almost double number of rooms

A "struggling" hotel has been given permission to almost double its number of rooms to try to increase profits.

The Quy Mill Hotel and Spa, in Stow-cum-Quy, near Cambridge, will expand from 51 rooms to 96.

Andrew Fillmore, a representative of the hotel's owners, told planners at South Cambridgeshire District Council that the business had "struggled to remain viable" due to its size.

Councillors unanimously agreed to approve the plans, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service

The hotel, in Church Road, is also planning to extend its restaurant, spa, and gym.

Some of the existing buildings will be demolished, but a Grade II listed 19th Century watermill will be kept.

An earlier proposal to build a "huge, fairly monolithic extension" had been refused. Planning officers said the new application was "more respectful".

Mr Fillmore said the hotel was “severely compromised” by the “physical constraints” of its size and the arrangement of the buildings.

He added the hotel would be able to take on 20 new full-time members of staff, which he said would benefit the area.

Councillors hears how Stow-cum-Quy Parish Council had "grave concerns" about the capacity of the sewage system to deal with new rooms and increased traffic.

But planning officers said Anglian Water had confirmed the sewage system had capacity, and the council's highway teams were happy with planned measures to keep road users safe.

Councillor Heather Williams said the hospitality sector had faced a difficult time since the Covid pandemic and she recognised it was a "big part of the local economy".

She added there had been "significant improvements" to the hotel's application to expand.

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