Offer to demolish mansion to save 5-star Surrey Hotel not part of larger golf course plan

The Arora Group, which also runs London’s Savoy and St Andrews in Scotland, was ordered to tear down all of its Englefield Green hotel or make changes to ensure it complies with the planning permission granted, after council officers found major breaches at the site.

Surinder Arora’s hotel chain has until October 14 2024 to obey the Runnymede Borough Council enforcement notice after a new building was built without permission.

But in fresh plans submitted to the council, the hotel group put forward proposals to sacrifice the Parkwood Estate in order to save the landmark hotel – to the annoyance of many who live nearby. The plans seek to demolish the derelict Parkwood Estate mansion south of the Fairmont Hotel site and previously approved plans to redevelop the estate relinquished. They say this will mean almost 3,000 square metres of green belt land will not built on.

It is the second breach of planning regulations at the hotel after it built a series of luxury treehouse apartments without permission.

One objector wrote: “The owner of the hotel who attended the meeting (for retrospective planning) at the council chambers stated that the lack of planning application for the treehouses was an oversight which he promised would never happen again.

“Simultaneously and afterwards it seems that other unapproved works were carried out.”

They added: “There should be no developments permitted on green belt land unless there are very special circumstances: none of the special circumstances are applicable to the Fairmont development.

“It is understood that Oaklands Park, a serene and wonderful woodland park, is planned to become a golf course, again ravaging our local woodland which should be protected.

“In addition I have no confidence that the developer will keep to any agreements made about Parkwood since his track record has been abysmal.”

People have until November 15 to voice their views on the latest developments and many have already spoken out against it.

While others, including the Fox and Hounds pub in Bishopsgate Road, have come out in favour.

They wrote: “Our saviour at this time has been the trade we get from the Fairmont, both walk in customers and the hotel also offering a drop off service to their guests wishing to experience an “English Pub”.

Adding: “I for one have only seen a positive effect on ours, walking yesterday in Windsor Great Park there seemed to be no effect there either.

“I believe our lovely village of Englefield Green has been put firmly on the tourist map due to this hotel, we have always lived in the shadow of our neighbours Windsor in that respect, and to be on a par with them is something we should strive for.”

A statement from the Arora group read: “We can confirm that we have now submitted revised planning applications to Runnymede Council for the Fairmont Windsor Park site.

“Our objective is to resolve the current planning situation while maintaining operations at the world class hotel we have built and which provides employment and wider economic benefits to the area.

“We want to be transparent with local residents about our plans and therefore are proactively informing people of our revised application.”

On the claims the land is earmarked for a golf club a spokesperson for the group added: “The Parkwood Estate received planning permission for another mansion – not for a golf course.

“It is this planning permission for the re-development of the Parkwood Estate that is being relinquished.

“The Parkwood Estate as it stands, will be demolished, returning the land to the Green Belt.

“As you are probably aware, a golf course would require specific planning permission which has not been sought – in addition, there is nothing planned and no work has been done on any design development.”