Cornwall’s Eden Project is to build a 109-room hotel on site.
Planning permission has been granted for the £8.5 million facility which will meet ‘the highest environmental standards’.
Construction is expected to begin later this year with the intention of opening the hotel in April 2018.
According to David Harland, Eden Project Executive Director, the ambition had always been to open a hotel on the site:
“We feel that the hotel will be a positive addition to the already excellent accommodation available in our local area and will help bolster our reputation as an attractive venue for events, conferences and weddings.”
He also added that the eye-catching design was in keeping with its surroundings. The unconventional design features prominent timber poles, cladding the outside of its two blocks.
Landscape is at the Heart of the Scheme
The project has taken several years to get to this point. Eden originally received planning permission for a hotel in June 2015. But, following advice from hotel experts, a revised design was submitted in May 2016 with additional facilities.
However, the revised application was unpopular with the public and was withdrawn. This latest design was developed by architects, Tate Harmer, as a response to the concerns of visual impact and scale.
“This building is a unique response to its local Cornish context and the philosophy of the Eden Project,” explained Jerry Tate, Partner, Tate Harmer. “Landscape is at the heart of the scheme, with local timber cladding and Cornish stone walls embedding the building into its setting. We are proud to have developed this design with the Eden Project as part of our ongoing relationship.”
Aside from accommodation, the building will also house classrooms. These will support Eden’s educational programmes, including its apprenticeship scheme and degree-level courses.
The location is close to the attraction’s Plum car park, giving easy access to the Eden site as well as local footpaths and cycle routes.
Existing old trees and stone walls will be incorporated into the design of the grounds. A number of new features will also be created including a meadow and orchard.
Eden’s research shows that over 18 million people who have visited since it opened in 2001. They have spent more than £1.7 billion within Cornwall, contributing significantly to the wider economy.
Images courtesy the Eden Project
