The Salthouse Hotel in County Antrim has applied for planning permission to extend its spa and restaurant.
The hotel has submitted a planning application to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council for the work at the beginning of April.
The extension of the spa is at basement level and will include an indoor hydro pool, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, hot tubs, private cabins with hot tubs and a gym.
The planning application also covers the erection of plant room at sub-basement level and extension of the existing hotel bar and restaurant with an outside terrace area and internal staircase on the ground floor.
The Design and Access Statement submitted with the planning application says:
“The Salthouse Hotel is a well-established existing hotel, with a number of existing tourist amenities including restaurant, bar, health suite and spa. The Salthouse Hotel has consistently operated at high occupancy since its opening.
“However, due to its popularity, it has had difficulties accommodating prospective customers wishing to avail of spa or dining facilities and the hotel needs to extend and upgrade its spa facilities and its bar/restaurant facilities.”
The statement adds that the new building “will remain subsidiary to the main hotel building” and the extension “will easily integrate into the overall development”.
It continues: “The careful consideration which was given to the design and scale of the hotel extension means that the magnificent hotel views of Rathlin Island and Fairhead can be enjoyed without compromising the integrity of the rural character.
“The proposed materials of the building will reflect the hotel and holiday cottages – both existing and approved – including smooth plaster render painted walls with stone cladding, black uPVC windows and a black flat roof. The design draws on the best traditions of materials and detailing in order to integrate well into the surrounding area.
“The original hotel was carefully designed to fit into the area of natural beauty. The extension has been designed similarly.”
The statement emphasises that “the views of the proposal from afar will be extremely limited” and it “will integrate well into the rural scene and character of the surrounding area and will have no negative impact on neighbouring residents”.
It concludes: “Great care has been taken in the location, siting and design of the extension to ensure the proposal is sympathetic to the local surroundings, the existing buildings and the character of the AONB.
“Therefore, for the reasons set out above, we respectfully request that planning permission is granted for this development proposal in due course.”