Decision awaited on 38- room hotel and restaurant in Cotswolds village

Locals have welcomed changes to plans for a 38-bedroom hotel in a Cotswolds village.

Bamford Property resubmitted plans last year to redevelop the dilapidated Mill House Hotel in Kingham which closed in 2017.

The hotel would include a restaurant, gym and pool, alehouse, bakehouse, and demonstration barn.

A free electric shuttle bus service is proposed to run between Kingham railway station, The Mill, The Wild Rabbit pub and Daylesford Organic Farm which the Bamfords also own.

(Image: Ben Pentreath/WODC)

A previous application was refused in 2021 after it was agreed the development comprised major development within the Cotswolds AONB and “an exceptional circumstances case has not been made.”

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There were 15 objections from local residents, including an allegation the Bamfords were carrying out “daily helicopter flights” over their homes.

There were also nine letters of support which said the disused hotel was “an eyesore” and the village was "lucky to continually enjoy the interest of the Bamford family who... generate much-needed sustainable employment and high-value tourism.”

A community event was held in September 2022 to reveal the updated strategy to the local community.

Planning documents say the amended plans have “reduced the overall quantum of development”  and have “focused on restoring the cultural heritage” of the Mill House Hotel.

Some Roman and prehistoric remains were unearthed during an archaeological evaluation of the mill.

Victoria Green, planning archaeologist for Oxfordshire County Council, responded to the evaluation saying “a further phase of archaeological mitigation will need to take place to fully investigate these remains.”

If something highly significant is unearthed, the plans may need to be changed.

(Image: Ben Pentreath/WODC)

Kingham Parish Council welcomed the updated plans saying "in contrast to the previous proposal, this one is of an appropriate scale and we appreciate the care that has been taken to ensure that it will complement the original Mill Building and the village itself".

But it said as there is "no scope for on-street parking at the site, so if (as we hope) the development is successful and parking becomes a problem, then there needs to be robust arrangements for off-site parking for both staff and guests".

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The council said the applicants also "need to have a robust discussion with Thames Water and be absolutely sure that [sewage] capacity issues have been dealt with".

And it said "this will be a major construction in a village the size of Kingham" and it is important that construction deliveries must come from the south and avoid going through the village and all activity, including parking of construction staff, must be confined to the site.

The application is under consideration by West Oxfordshire District Council.