A £3 million extension project planned at the award-winning Homewood hotel near Bath has been approved.
Homewood hotel near Bath | Photo © Homewood
The latest announcement forms part of ongoing plans by owners Ian and Christa Taylor to target longer stay leisure and multi-generational travellers by further enhancing its spa and leisure offering.
The approval of the plans follows a 3-year-long process working with local architect Kevin Murphy of Aaron Evans.
Sustainability has been a focus of the project, with the use of renewable energy sources such as ground source heat pumps and solar panels to minimise the hotel’s carbon footprint.
Improvements will be added to the north of the main hotel in the grounds of Homewood Lodge, refurbished in 2020 into 10 luxury bedrooms, now known as Mallingford Mews.
The development provides six new luxury guest suites each with its own private terraces along with hot tubs boasting views overlooking the Avon Valley and a small meeting and events space.
In addition, extensions to the existing spa will create a new entrance foyer, additional double treatment room, fitness suite and post-treatment relaxation space.
As part of the masterplan, new landscape planting, gardens and additional parking will be also provided.
Homewood is situated on the outskirts of Bath. The proposals comprise the replacement of a number of existing buildings and the extension of others being retained.
To secure consent, the design has been granted approval by Green Belt policies whilst overcoming significant ecology and visual impact constraints.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and Mr & Mrs Smith Collection, Homewood already offers 31 rooms, a garden spa with outdoor pool, and Olio Restaurant.
Ian Taylor commented: “Since we took ownership of Homewood in 2018, I have had ambitions to make the most of its heart-capturing location overlooking the beautiful Somerset countryside which sits in Green Belt and AONB.
“I have always seen great potential with the barn, outhouses, and spa; and it has been our vision to transform them into spaces for luxury experiences with a touch of playfulness.
“It is a key objective of this project to focus on sustainability and achieve a design that is sympathetic to our neighbours in the local community, by taking into full consideration, ecology, and light spill, given our location on the top of the hill.
“I am delighted with the final result, which marks the last piece of the jigsaw in the Homewood rejuvenation project, quickly developing as a market-leading boutique hotel.”
Homewood is part of The Kaleidoscope Collection, an independent hotel group which includes The Bird, a boutique townhouse also found in Bath and Bishopsthrow Hotel & Spa in Wiltshire.
