CONTROVERSIAL plans for the redevelopment of the Tides Reach Hotel, Salcombe, which were described as ‘looking like a cruise liner,’ have been shelved.

The Eden Hotel Collection has sold the site at South Sands to Harbour Hotels – which already owns the Harbour Hotel in Salcombe – for an undisclosed sum.

Eden said the decision followed continued local opposition to its proposals for a luxury 50-bedroom hotel, despite the plans receiving planning permission in February this year.

The £12m investment, designed by award-winning waterfront architects, was expected to have created 100 jobs.

Harbour Hotels, part of the Nicolas James Group, intends to refurbish the existing Tides Reach Hotel to include a new bedroom block, spa, and 10 new apartments.

Mark Chambers, Eden Hotel Collection’s managing director, said: ‘Having invested so much time, effort and money in securing planning consent, we are obviously disappointed not to see this project through.

‘But it was clearly not a development some in the community wished to see, so we will instead focus our energy and investment elsewhere.

‘We are however pleased to have concluded terms with Harbour Hotels who are well established locally and whose plans for the site will complement their investments in Salcombe.’

Eden’s plans, submitted in November 2014, drew significant opposition from the local community.

People principally objected to the visual impact, but also raised concerns of insufficient staff parking at the site.

Cllr Rob Wheeler from Salcombe Town Council described the design as ‘looking like a cruise liner,’ while a member of the public speaking at the public forum, described it as ‘a brutal piece of architecture’ and ‘something that will be a blot on the landscape for years to come.’

But, despite the town council’s objection, permission for Eden’s development was granted by South Hams Council in February by six votes to five.

Cllr Julian Brazil said at the time: ‘I didn’t support it myself, but it was the economic argument that swayed it. I don’t think anyone was that impressed with the design, even those who were in favour, but people obviously felt that the economic benefits outweighed the visual impact.’

Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce were generally supportive of the plans with James Spencer, vice chair, saying: ‘The improved and enlarged hotel will bring immediate and long-term benefits to the businesses of Salcombe and surrounding areas.’

However, in March, the ‘Keep South Sands Beautiful’ group was set up to try and block the expansion of the hotel.

After failing to persuade South Hams Council to accept its decision was wrong, KSSB sought a judicial review into the council’s decision.

But, in June, a judge ruled the decision to grant planning permission would not be subject to a review, ruling ‘it was not possible to demonstrate sufficient fault in the procedures followed by the planning authority.’

KSSB decided not to appeal the decision after hearing the company was considering ‘going back to the drawing board’ with the design.

It now appears that the Rigby Group have bowed to local pressure.

Nicolas Roach, chairman of the Nicolas James Group, said: ‘We are delighted that Eden Hotel Collection has given us the opportunity to develop our 14th hotel site.

‘We intend to remodel Tides Reach sensitively into another superb hotel alongside 10 apartments within the existing building.

‘These will contribute towards the hotel development and spa refurbishment costs.

‘The design will be in keeping with the area and closer in appearance to the neighbouring properties.

‘We are confident that a newly designed, informal, relaxed hotel with a spa membership open to local people will be welcomed by the majority.’

Harbour Hotels was due to make a presentation, laying out its plans for the hotel, at a Salcombe Town Council meeting on Wednesday evening.