Former Stratford hotel could be making a comeback on Waterside
A STRATFORD hotel could be making a return.
Bancroft Gardens Care Home, which closed at the end of 2022, was previously a hotel before being converted into a residential home.
Plans have been submitted to return the building, on the corner of Waterside and Sheep Street, to a hotel with 14 bedrooms.
The plans show the reception area would be on the ground floor with eight bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area and office on the first floor and a further six bedrooms on the second floor.
The building was formerly known at the Bancroft Garden Hotel and had 17 bedrooms. It was changed to a care home after gaining planning permission for the move in 1987.
However, the care home was closed and it was not deemed suitable for elderly people – the bedrooms were all on the first and second floors, parts of which are above a fish and chip restaurant.
The application states that there are no plans to alter the layout of the building and adds: “The care home has reached the end of its economical life – care homes are very rarely found above a takeaway premises in town centres and on a leasehold basis.
“The care home was closed due to the retirement of the care home manager, but also due to the worry about fire escape routes being insufficient for elderly and often wheelchair bound residents.”
The application has been made by James Brookes, of Badge Brook Estates Ltd, which has a lease for the building. It adds some simple refurbishment work would be needed to make the building suitable for the standards needed for short-term letting.
