How big is it now then?

These images show the relative size of the amended Tropicana development versus the original plan, the failed Mace plan and the current Tropicana development.

Many residents are worried about the overall size of the development so these images are helpful if giving a sense of height.

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The amended plans are in

The amended plans for Henry Boot for the Tropicana have been submitted to North Somerset Council.

Click here for the full elevations:

Here is what Henry Boot say the main changes are:

• A reduction of the height of the overall building by 10 metres (34.5m-24.5m) with the building now being lower than Carlton Mansions;
• Additional active frontage on the north side of the building facing the town centre;
• The hotel has been repositioned centrally within the front elevation and will now be spread over two storeys instead of four storeys;
• As a result the access tower in the northeastern corner of the old scheme has been centralised which enhances its symmetry and acts as a direct focal point and visual axis when viewed from Clevedon Road;
• Some external staircases have been internalised in order to provide better views from the building to the magnificent beach and coast beyond.

Submission of Tropicana plans imminent

Henry Boot are due to submit their formal planning application for the Tropicana redevelopment in February. The Weston and Somerset Mercury are reporting that a meeting of North Somerset Council next week will rubber stamp amendments to the original consultation plans.

So here it is folks: we’ll get to the nitty gritty and see, at last, the detailed plans Henry Boot have to offer. North Somerset Councillors will then have to decide to back the plans or send Henry Boot back to the drawing board.

Amended plans to reduce height of building?

I hear rumours that Henry Boot’s final planning application – which is due to be submitted during February – will reduce the overall height of the building to take account of objections raised during the public consultation process.

Many residents were appalled at the sheer size of the building proposed – which was higher than Carlton Mansions.

Friends of the Tropicana launch new website

The Friends of the Tropicana (FOOT) have launched a new website letting people know about the latest developments on the Tropicana development.

FOOT is an independent, non-party political campaign which wants the Henry Boot plans stopped. Find out more by visiting their website.

Did Henry Boot fib about planning permission?

Henry Boot’s literature in support of their proposals for the Tropicana site in Weston-super-Mare says that the “precedent for development of the site is already set … [as] … planning permission was previously granted to Mace Developments in May 2003 for a new leisure complex including a hotel and swimming pool” (my emphasis).

Looking back at the previous planning applications (and there have been a few), I can’t find any mention of a hotel in the approved plans for the Tropicana. Are Henry Boot fibbing – or am I missing something?

A lot of Westonians I’ve spoke to object particularly to the proposal to include a hotel in Henry Boot’s plans – it makes the structure much bigger and concedes the principle of residential accommodation as opposed to leisure use. Are Henry Boot trying to hoodwink us into believing that this is already agreed?

New Tropicana images

For those that didn’t attend the public exhibitions, below are some of the images presented by Henry Boot to show how their proposed Tropicana development in Weston-super-Mare will look. You can find the full details here.

What do you think? You can comment on these images by clicking on the comments link below. Thanks.

Latest press coverage

The Weston and Worle News November 22nd offers the following Tropicana coverage this week:

Give us some perspective amid calls for better artists impressions of the scale of the proposed Tropicana design.

Residents consider proposals at the public meetings organised by Henry Boot around Weston.

The Weston & Worle News also reports on the launch of TropicanaWatch.

The Weston Mercury also has full coverage in their 22nd November edition, but none of the stories appear to be online as yet.

Pool operator confirmed

The Weston Mercury has news about the pool operator who will run the ‘splash pool’ at the proposed new Tropicana.

The firm chosen, Lemur Leisure, run the ‘Splashdown’ water park in Poole.

Weston & Worle News reports

The Weston and Worle News offers its take on the Tropicana plans.