Plans to demolish Rickmansworth’s hotel approved

Rickmansworth’s only remaining hotel, Long Island, will be demolished and turned into homes after politicians met on July 17 and unanimously approved the proposal. The proposals were passed by Three Rivers councillors at a planning meeting on Thursday as it was decided to turn the hotel, on Victoria Close, into flats and houses. Keay Homes, the developers, recently put in their fourth application as they sought permission to convert the original Long Island Exchange building into eight apartments and to demolish the existing hotel extension and construct 25 apartments and four houses. Officers recommended Councillors approve the application and local politicians were reluctant to go against them. Councillor Ann Shaw then asked the committee if they could think of any planning grounds on which to decline permission. The committee failed to find any reasons to refuse permission and unanimously voted in favour of Keay Homes application.