PLANS to demolish a former petrol station and turn it into a 50-bed hotel will go ahead – despite previously being refused by the council.

The petrol station landowner Dr Caroleta Marsden-Huggins was granted permission to demolish the existing buildings, on St Leonards Road, Windsor, after taking the plans to an appeal.

The site is currently being used as a garage and second-car dealership, but after winning the appeal it is set to become a new four-storey hotel.

Royal Borough councillors refused the scheme in 2019, saying the plans represented a “cramped and overdeveloped” site, making it “detrimental” to the character of the street scene.

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They also said the removal of the existing trees would “detract” from the character and appearance of the area.

But planning inspectorate P D Sedgwick took a different view from the councillors and decided to allow the applicant’s appeal and granted full planning permission.

While acknowledging the roof height would exceed that of its neighbours, the inspectorate concluded the hotel would not be a cramped and overdeveloped site as the sides of the building would be set in from the plot boundary.

The inspectorate believed careful excavation during construction would not result in harm to the prominent trees near the site.

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Nearly 50 car parking spaces will be underground, including four disabled parking spaces and provision for at least four cycle parking spaces.

Over the years, the plans have been subject to change following pushback from residents as well as the council.

In 2017, the scheme started out as 61-beds – but was refused by the council for the same reasons outlined in the 2019 plans.