2017: CBeebies Land Hotel

[Rob]

This should probably be in the Planning Portal sub-forum but I'm unable to create a topic there.

Anyway, Alton Towers submitted plans for the Spa expansion on March 10th and the associated documents were uploaded yesterday.

The application and documents can be viewed here.

Description of proposal:

The proposed development will cover an area of 0.14 hectares to the east of the existing hotel and spa in the south east corner of the Alton Towers Resort. The proposals comprise an extension to create a new reception area, a conservatory, the creation of a spa garden, and a service yard.

A few things I have noticed from a quick viewing of the plans:

- All of the drawings show the already approved ATH extension and the new Spa expansion will connect to this. Does this hint to the ATH extension being built at the same time?
- The Spa Garden will feature what is being called a "fantastical object"; I had to laugh at them calling it that in the application!
- The internal layout plans show the much larger reception area. Here there is both a hotel and spa reception. Access to this reception is from the current hotel and a new entrance from the side where the lodges will be built.

 

[James]

I wonder if they are really being serious with "fantastical object".

Here is said object anyway (taken from one of the "Proposed elevations" documents):

Wow, so fantastical!

It looks like this will carry some seaside theme (similar to what theme the Spa already carries).

I really hope the hotel extension gets built with this and all of these things happen with the lodges. Would be great to see 2015 be a major resort expansion!

 

[Rob]

Thinking about it over the closed season they have removed a lot of trees behind the ATH garden, it looks very bare there now. Could this have been in preparation for the hotel extension?

 

[Ollie]

With a separate hotel check-in desk and 'Hotel/Spa' lounge it looks like the new hotel extension could be some sort of special/upgraded accommodation offering, possibly adults only?

Otherwise, I do not see how the new rooms would be easily accessible from the existing hotel, as they would be a long walk round corridors or a trip outside? Correct me if I am wrong, but wither way I think this is a real possibility.

 

[James]

The (planned) rooms for the hotel extension are executive suites - so it will be aimed at the corporate and higher end market. May be a possibility they will be aimed at large families too, although unlikely.

 

[jon81uk]

Also looking at the plans it appears there are some quite big internal changes to the spa, with the male changing rooms being expanded and the female changing rooms being removed/converted to a different room, I assume changing will then be unisex?

The exisiting internal wooden sauna also looks like it will be removed/relocated as well as both of the sensory showers and I can't see where these would be relocated. There is also at least three new treatment rooms shown on the ground floor (at present there are only second floor treatment rooms)

All the plans also show the hotel extension so I agree with Rob this is still prep work for the new rooms to be built along the back of the garden, as the walkway to these rooms would run along as part of the top floor of the Spa extension.

The new reception may be in preparation for the new rooms as well so that people staying in them can enter directly through the new side door that also leads towards the lodges. Maybe the new hotel extension (if it is built) will be VIP or similar and therefore have a dedicated check-in desk?

The original extension plans were for family suites, but the lodges are going to be family suites I think. Therefore for the new extension rooms to be aimed at adults with a VIP lounge that would make sense. Also being a long walk from the main atrium of the hotel would almost be a good thing, as it means the rooms would be quieter.

 

[Craig]

Looks quite interesting this! I also spotted the hotel reception, and strongly believe that we may indeed be seeing some sort of separate premium spa break hotel. The new plans include a conservatory which would lead out onto the outdoor spa garden on the opposite side to the current one. As the hotel extension plans included plans to get rid of that conservatory and add a relaxation room and further treatment rooms, I think it's likely we may see this in the not too distant future.

I've done a very quick overlay of the spa extension plans in relation to the current spa building if people are a bit stuck with where it'll fit

One other thing I've noticed is that the document "proposed level 1" includes the text 'internal spa layout is for illustration purposes only'. A strong indication of a lot of work which could potentially happening across the whole spa building. Exciting stuff

There's also a quick news article online too .

As mentioned in our lodge application story a few weeks ago, planning documents have been submitted for an extension to the Alton Towers Spa. We take a closer look at the application to see what might lie in store for guests at the Resort in future.

Where will the extension be located?
The new extension would represent around 205m² of additional space for the spa. The extension would be to the east of the current site.

Proposed features
Should the plans be approved, there’ll now be a dedicated entrance area to the spa. A large feature door will welcome guests, who will enter the spa over a bridge across a new pond.

Theming appears to include a petrol pump feature along with a ‘fantastical theming object’, which could potentially be a ship themed sculpture as pictured on the right.

Once guests enter the new spa, they’ll be welcomed in a brand new reception area. The new spa garden will feature:

- A new outdoor hydro pool
- A sunken seating area
- An outdoor fire pit
- A new indoor sauna building

Fabric canopies will cover parts of the outdoor area to protect guests and a wall will surround the outdoor area for privacy. It’s presumed the new sauna building will replace the current small timber sauna which was added to the spa recently.

 

[Dave]

It certainly seems that they are going to do something similar to Chessington and call the hotel extension a third hotel with it's own mini brand. Though without it's own restaurant and bar I don't know how successful that will be. Though the proposed lounge might be a bar/ restaurant area.

Certainly nice to see some significant resort investment.

 

[PeteB]

Actually quite impressed for once. The spa extension looks like it's being done 'the right way'.

Still have concerns over building a hotel extension at the bottom of the garden area though.

 

[CoasterCrazyChris]

The plans look really well done, it looks as if the extension will be in the same style as the existing hotel which is good.

 

[Ben]

As a fan of the Spa already Im happy to see these plans and think it really could work.

Im actually really impressed that the 'spa hotel' will become a thing too, perhaps with these larger suite rooms there will be access to the relaxation rooms and pools included as part of the room rate.

Again though I can't understand how the hotels are being allowed to expand more with no additional restaurant and bar areas?
They are quite often too busy now, but Alton seem happy to keep chucking more and more people with no expanded operation areas. I just dont get it.

 

[Johno]

Perhaps, it hints that we will see a planning application for an entertainments complex soon.

'Required because of the severe lack of restaurants and dining options in the resort'...

 

[BigHairJoe]

Would make sense for an entertainment complex would make it more of a resort all year round if more things were going on at the hotels over closed season

 

[James]

The Spa extension has been approved!

 

[Scott]

From TowersStreet News:

When Alton Towers published plans for the (now approved) Enchanted Village lodge accommodation, they also published plans for an extension to the Alton Towers Spa. We can now confirm that these plans have been approved by the Staffordshire Moorlands Council.



The plans call for 250m² of extra Spa space, to be built to the east of the current site (see image above for a representation of how it should look) and will include a new dedicated Spa entrance area to replace the old Spa reception. A new pond and piece of ‘featured theming’ will be built along with the entrance to welcome guests to the building.

Other new facilities within the Spa will include:

A new outdoor hydro pool
An outdoor fire pit
A new indoor sauna
A sunken seating area


Along with the outdoor area, fabric canopies will be built to protect guests from the elements and a wall will be built around it for privacy. The Spa extension itself also ties in with the long-approved plans for an extension to the Alton Towers Hotel, and we wonder if the two buildings will be built at similar times.

The approval itself does not state a timeframe for building the new Spa extension, although it does state that any landscaping and planting must be done in the first closed season after construction has been completed. It is also interesting to note that there were no objections raised over this application – which is often a rarity for Towers’ projects.

What are your thoughts on the plans? Are you a fan of the spa or have you never been? Let us know in the comments below or join our lively discussion forums. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest Alton Towers news!

 

[Sam]

I hope this will include an expansion of the changing areas - they're cramped and chronically undersized and the worst thing about the current Spa.

 

[Dave]

I'm fairly sure it does, I think the changing rooms are expanding into the old reception area.

 

[Rob]

I can't seem to find a topic for the ATH 'extension' so thought I'd post this here for now and it can be moved if necessary. TowersStreet have just posted this photo to Facebook:

Looks like the proposed plans are actually happening! It's pleasing in one respect as it does add more accommodation options but it will sad to have the views from ATH partially spoilt by the new building. I'd imagine they plan to open it along with the Spa expansion.

There really is a lot going on with the resort side of things now, and it's going to put even more pressure on the need for more entertainment options.

 

[Sazzle]

So long as we're sure this isn't just drainage to compensate for all this heavy rain we're having... (hehehehe).

Fantastic news to see things moving on the Resort expansion but I'm with you Rob on the query over entertainments!

There are very limited things to do of an evening on Resort (not that I've stayed in a while, on account the prices are ridiculously high), and they could do with options such as film showings, a quiet bar that doesn't get infiltrated by pirate bill and close at early hours, and a proper cocktail bar that doesn't serve drinks out of sachets.

Oops... how negative of me :-/

 

[Tim]

We can only hope that increased demand brings the above.

When you think about it half the hotels at Europa Park wouldn't have that much to do if it was by itself but because each caters to something different and you can cross between all of them there's plenty to do.