Residents concerned over new apartment plans on site of historical Wolverhampton hotel

The Quality Hotel - formerly the Connaught - on Tettenhall Road will be knocked down and replaced with 48 student flats and 53 apartments under plans submitted to the city council in December.

If approved, each of the 53 regular apartments would come with a parking space but there would be none available for students, who will instead be encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport.

The planning application has received negative feedback from some residents at the nearby Vauxhall House, who have said the development will lead to 'major parking' problems.

Mr Jon Page, who submitted his opinion online, said: "In principle I am not against this development, but the major concern for me for me is parking.

"This problem will only worsen should 53 two bed apartments, 48 bed student accommodation and only 53 new parking spaces.

"This will make me as a neighbour of the planned development, constantly in doubt of being to park my car in a close proximately to the block of flats in which I live."

However, Councillor Craig Collingswood, who represents the Park ward where the hotel is located, said the concerns about parking should not mean that the plans are scrapped.

He said: "I am still very much behind this project in principal and think it would greatly benefit the area. I am also glad that residents are airing their views on the development, which is always encouraged.

"If they feel that the area could become overcrowded or it could lead to parking trouble then I am glad they have brought that up.

"From personal experience, everyone I have spoken to has voiced their support for the plans.

"Maybe this is just something for the developers to consider going forward."

The landmark hotel was built in the 1960s and currently contains 60 guest rooms but bosses have said the building requires a substantial upgrade and modernisation in order to compete with other hotels in the city.

A further objection to the proposal, from Mr Peter Leech, a Tettenhall resident, claimed that the more modernised style of the building in comparison to the current hotel would be out of character.

He said:"This proposed development is totally out of character for the site. It is too high, too dense and not sympathetic to other properties along Tettenhall Road.

Penn architectural company JKF Limited have been appointed as architects for the scheme. Bosses there were unavailable to comment.