Plans to convert Richmond hotel into apartments with bar

Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for listed building consent to change the use of the hotel to create a commercial bar/restaurant to the ground floor and private market residential apartments to the first and second floors, at The Fleece Hotel, Victoria Road, Richmond.

According to a planning statement, the design principles for this development are: to optimise the commercial space and improve viability through minor internal rearrangement; and to convert the first and second floor areas into high-end private residences, to be served via an existing side entrance.

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On the ground floor we propose to partially remove two internal walls in the entrance to make a larger function room.

The purpose of this is to enhance the flow of the space and to improve the economic potential.

For the first floor, the proposal is to convert the nine first floor en-suite hotel letting rooms into three two-bed apartments.

Currently, there are four en-suite letting rooms and one three-bed apartment to the second floor. The plans are to convert this into two one-bed apartments for private residential use.

The Fleece Hotel is a late 19th Century building, constructed in 1897 and designed by Architect George Gordon Hoskins.

Built as a hotel and public house, The Fleece is a large brick and terracotta structure within a setting of much simpler 18th Century buildings of local stone construction.

A Grade II listed building with a castellated gothic revival main facade, The Fleece is a landmark building in Richmond.

The building fronts Victoria Road and extends over three floors plus a basement.

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The building was reopened in May 2019 after gaining planning permission in March 2016 to restore the building to create a hotel with associated restaurant and rooms, private apartments and three mews houses.

Subsequently, various planning application have been submitted and changes made to enhance the building with the aim of making it a viable business whilst being sympathetic to the building's heritage.

In July 2023 the hotel closed due to increased running costs and operational difficulties. Prior to this closure, the business was on the market for 18 months but no purchaser was found.