The future of the former Woolworths building in Huntingdon could be sealed next week as a planning application for the premises goes in front of the district council.

A planning application was submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) on May 5, 2023 to convert the building into two smaller shop units, a luxury car showroom, and a 31-room hotel.

The building, which was previously a Poundland, sits at 111 High Street in Huntingdon.

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The proposals would see the ground floor stay as a retail unit. It would be divided in half and become two smaller shops facing the High Street.

The rear of the building would then become a luxury car showroom, while the first floor of the building would be converted into 31 short-stay rooms for a hotel.

However, seeking permission for this planning application has not been smooth sailing. Huntingdonshire District Council's planning officer has recommended a refusal for the application ahead of a meeting next week.

The application will be discussed at Huntingdonshire District Council's Development Management Committee, which takes place at 7pm on July 15.

Huntingdon Town Council recommends approval for the application. However, some members have raised concerns about fire safety of the hotel rooms, accessibility for disabled users in the hotel rooms, parking concerns, and whether a car showroom is in keeping with the heritage of Huntingdon High Street.

Cambridgeshire County Council's Highway Authority has no objections to the proposal.

Huntingdonshire District Council's conservation officer objects to the application on the basis that "insufficient" information has been provided" - they also claim the drawings in the plan are incorrect.

The Environmental Protection Team at HDC has its own concerns about sound levels in the hotel bedrooms.

The HDC planning officer report states that while the two new shops and hotel would fall in line with the "main town centre use" category of the National Planning Police Framework, the luxury car showroom would not.

The report states that the showroom, "would offer a limited contribution to the overall vitality and viability" of the town centre.