Essex newspapers are reporting that the Singapore Profitable Group attempt to convert protected land in Colchester to build a hotel has failed after two planning applications and an appeal.
Green gateway hotel plan turned down in Colchester
CELEBRATIONS are under way after an independent inspector turned down plans to build a hotel on a green gateway into Colchester.
Inspector Julia Gregory ruled a three-star hotel, with 87 beds, could not be built off Cymbeline Way, near a route used daily by tens of thousands of people.
Landowner, the Strategic Land Planning Trust, part of the Profitable Group, appealed after Colchester Council twice refused bids to build on the fields, following opposition from residents, conservationists and councillors. During a four-day hearing, the trust argued Colchester needed the hotel, and insisted it would not look out of place.
But, in her decision, Mrs Gregory dismissed both claims, saying there were other sites in Colchester where a similar hotel could be built, and saying it would be a “significant intrusion”.
She wrote: “This land forms part of a green and pleasant landscaped approach to Colchester along Cymbeline Way.
“The scale of the building would be far in excess of any others in the general area, where buildings are small and dispersed.”
Continued
The Profitable Group have 4 land investment sites in the UK . All four sites have run into development problems causing concerns to be raised in Singapore about the viability of the program to buy UK green belt or protected land and convert it for building. Profitable Group have recenty been added to the Monetary Authority of Singapore investor alert list.There have also been a number of news items related to investors expressing public concern.
Colchester Cherry Tree Grove – Failed planning application since 2008
Colchester Spring Grove – was declared non viable for development in 2005
Concorde Village Hounslow – subject of a freedom of information request and subsequently declared non-viable by Hounslow council and serious concerns raised in press
Nafferton The Ridings - when Profitable Plots were closed down in the UK in 2007 UK investors were offered a transfer from Nafferton to other sites or return of funds invested. Nafferton is subsequently still being promoted on the Profitable web site to Asian investors.
The Profitable Group site at Nafferton has now also been the subject of a freedom of information request. The council has stated it also has no chance of development.
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/profitable_group_nafferton_land
Nafferton will NOT be identified as a village for future development -
principally because of its proximity to Driffield which has more services
and facilities. If this approach is confirmed then there will be NO
allocation of housing land in the village. The Council’s LDF includes an
Allocations Development Plan Document (again available on the website)
which is out for consultation with potential housing sites identified -
however as Nafferton is not a village identified for development the
Allocation DPD does not consider ANY potential residential sites in the
village. The future status of Nafferton as suggested in the LDF has
changed since 2005, and indeed since the Council’s own Smaller Settlements
Development Plan Document of Oct 2006 when Nafferton was still identified
as a “market village” where limited development would be permitted.