Could they just not do what the americans do and build a carpark underneath the mechanics institute and then build the hotel?
Er.......I'm no civil engineer but having worked on some big public capital investments I can say that underground car parking is a lot more expensive than people would think.........and thats if you build it first and then construct on top.....trying to build one under the foundations of a grade II listed building? I don't think so.
I think the parking is the sticking point all round to be honest. I think without that most residents could probably live with the idea of a hotel. The developer would then just have to get designs past EH.
One thought, is there still a community centre, with its own little car park, in the square by the Gluepot? If so could the facilities in that be reprovided in the Mechanics, and the space be used for parking. It's short distance away, but wth pick-up/drop off bays outside the hotel, maybe even valet parking, it might be made to work.
