New bid to turn Bovingdon's Bobsleigh Inn hotel into homes

The owners of the former Bobsleigh Inn Hotel in Bovingdon submitted plans for 67 homes at the site of the 16th century 45-bed hotel, last year.

Before the plan was withdrawn Bovingdon Parish Council had objected to the “nature and scale of the proposals”, although it specified it did not object to the principle of redevelopment.

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Macdonald Hotels and Resorts LTD, which owns the site, described the existing building as in “poor condition” and, last year, The Mirror reported that urban explorers visited the site.

The hotel shut in 2014 and while the 2022 plan sought to demolish all the buildings the new plan would retain the main building and convert it into 33 apartments.

A bird's eye view of the hotel site including the caravans to the rear. (Image: Google Maps)

The existing staff accommodation would be converted into a three-bedroom house.

As well as the apartments, 24 houses would be added to the site after the demolition of “associated minor out buildings”, garages, and “dilapidated static residential caravans”.

The hotel in 2010, when it was open (Image: Google Street View)

One person still lives in the caravan zone and, according to the plan, they would be relocated to an upgraded static home with their full agreement.

A quarter of the homes would be for affordable housing use and there would be parking at the site.