New Forest: Image shows how hotel site will be transformed

Most of the 59-bed Lyndhurst Park Hotel has been demolished to make way for a showpiece development that will transform the eastern entrance to the village.

The hotel's historic façade has been retained and will be used to provide some of the housing.

Plans submitted by Burry and Knight, part of Hoburne Development, were given the green light by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) in 2022.

Major demolition work started last year and was welcomed by villagers, who said it would remove an eyesore (Image: Newsquest)

In 1912 the building was redesigned with the help of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, who was a frequent visitor to the Forest.

Sir Arthur and his second wife Jean lived at Brook, near Cadnam, in the 1920s and are buried at nearby All Saints Church, Minstead.

The hotel was branded an eyesore by Lyndhurst residents after it closed in 2014 with the loss of 20 jobs.

In 2017 it emerged that vandals were targeting the site. Conservationists said a “priceless” stained-glass window installed in the 19th century was one of several items that had been damaged or destroyed by intruders.

In 2020 a three-storey section of the hotel collapsed, leaving a huge hole in the back of the complex. 

In 2020 part of the Lyndhurst Park Hotel collapsed, leaving a gaping hole in the three-storey complex (Image: Supplied)

Plans to redevelop the site sparked 63 letters of objection. Critics said a "significant portion" of the area designed by Conan Doyle would be lost. They also claimed the new buildings would be too tall and out of character.

But the scheme also resulted in 19 letters of support from people who said it would remove an eyesore as well as provide homes and jobs.

Graham Reeve, chairman of the parish council's planning committee, said the artist's impression showed the varying styles and finishes being used to reflect existing buildings in the village.

"Members of the committee were recently offered a tour of the site to see for themselves the progress and quality of construction of both the first phase and the detached and semi-detached dwellings to the rear.

"This was a very informative visit and it was good to see at last the old hotel site finally being transformed."

Major demolition work started last summer.

Speaking at the time the parish council chairman, Chris Willshire, said: "The council expects to see the development grow in accordance with the agreed plans, resulting in a high-quality range of dwellings.

"We look forward to the return of a prestigious and impressive 'gateway' feature to the village."