Truro-based CAD Architects have recently secured Planning Approval for the redevelopment of two hotels in Newquay: Whipsiderry Hotel and Sandy Lodge. The proposed schemes implement an innovative model of regeneration by using open market housing to fund the creation of new, high-quality tourist accommodation on the same site.

The Whipsiderry Hotel building will be replaced with four high-quality self-catering holiday units alongside six residential houses, five of which will be sold on the open market and one retained as owners' accommodation.

Sandy Lodge, which is currently under construction, will deliver six apartments and five terraced townhouses, one of which will be lived in by the owners of the hotel. The sale of these dwellings will fund a programme of investment to upgrade the facilities in the existing hotel.

Sally Jones, Associate Architect at CAD Architects, explains:

"The proposals provide significant investment in both sites, delivering high-quality visitor accommodation that supports the drive for an all-year-round tourist economy in Cornwall. With each project, we were commissioned to appraise the site and we created a scheme where tourist accommodation for the business would be funded by the sale of open market housing."

Mark Dawes, MD of CAD Architects, says:

"This new approach helps solve a number of issues. Firstly, the development secures future income for the hotel owners and means that jobs will be retained and created on the site. Secondly, it enables the business to pivot into one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK tourism market – high quality, self-catering accommodation that meets the luxury expectations of today's visitors. This will help consolidate Newquay's position as a leading holiday destination. And thirdly, building new homes on the site will contribute in a small way to easing the local housing crisis. It is a win-win solution bringing benefits to the owners, staff, local community and the local economy."

Sally Jones adds:

"The key principle here is using the development of open market housing to fund the regeneration of older hotels to provide new, high-quality tourist accommodation on the same site, making the best use of the land and ensuring the economic sustainability of the business. At Sandy Lodge, creative re-use of part of the site is enabling the existing hotel facility to be upgraded. At the Whipsiderry Hotel, the entire site will be redeveloped. In both scenarios, we are providing new dwellings for the community and improving the local tourist offer.

"This innovative approach is a really exciting future model for hotel regeneration. Changes in the tourism market are creating new challenges to which Cornwall must respond. At CAD Architects, we firmly believe that this creative approach can offer a solution to these challenges."