If you live near the former Mendip Lodge Hotel site on Bath Road on the northern edge of town, have children at the College opposite, have fond memories of the hotel, or just see the site every day, you might be interested in the future of the site.  The news is that late last month, Latona Leisure withdrew their proposals to redevelop the whole of the former Mendip Lodge Hotel site for housing, leaving the future of the derelict site in limbo for even longer. 

Last year Latona submitted a planning application last year (MDC reference 2011/0514) to extend the time that they had to carry out their planning permission to redevelop the whole Mendip Lodge Hotel site for housing. The outline scheme (ref. 056194/017) was granted permission by Mendip District Council in September 2005, and would have seen 43 houses (including 35 retirement apartments) built across the whole site if Latona had submitted all the further details the Council asked for.  However, the Council was still waiting for further details to process the application (such as a Flood Risk Assessment which was required by the Environment Agency), when the renewal application was withdrawn by Latona in August.

There is however still a valid planning permission (ref 2010/2498) for six detached houses, which could be built if Latona can reach a deal with a housing developer.  That scheme was granted permission by Mendip on 1^st December 2010, and would extend the current block of three houses, building out northwards from the plot next to The Squirrels.  If you want to see the approved plans, you can find them online (http://www.mendip.gov.uk/CouncilService.asp?id=SX9452-A780E795&cat=91, or go to www.mendip.gov.uk, ‘Planning Application Search’ and enter the reference number 2010/2498). Or just let me know and I can send them to you.

In 2010 Latona also proposed a detailed scheme of 35 sheltered houses (retirement apartments) across the rest of the site, but later in 2010 withdrew that application.

Therefore it is the 35 retirement apartments development that will not now go ahead.  As I understand it, Latona Leisure are actively trying to market both the site with detailed permission for 6 houses and the rest of the site to housing developers, but currently I think no agreement is yet in place with anyone to develop the site. 

Please let me know if you have any concerns about this.  I have contacted the owners for an update, and will be asking them to contact local residents with any news of their future plans.

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