IT'S one of the few Liverpool hotels with an international reputation. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stayed there during her trip to the UK. European football teams use it as their base.
But users of the rooftop penthouse and nearby reception lounge at the award winning Hope Street Hotel are banned from using outdoor terrace areas offering stunning views of the city at night.
An 8pm curfew was imposed after angry protests from people living nearby who feared late night boozy events on the balconies overlooking Hope Place, Hope Street and Hardman Street. It came after the hotel built a large extension next to the main building, using part of the former Merseyside Police Headquarters, creating the roof terraces.
Now the owners of the hotel have asked the council to amend a planning condition that would allow visitors to soak up the Liverpool skyline after dusk, by extending the hours the terraces can be used.
Their application has now been given a boost with support – albeit qualified – from the guardians of the residential community, the Rodney Street Association.
The hotel says it has spent months working with city planners, devising screening and noise control measures to ensure the homes of neighbours in Hope Place will not be overlooked or disturbed by the night time use of the terraces.
Dr Emlyn Williams, chairman of the Rodney Street Association, says his group has carefully researched the application to extend the hours when the terraces can be used.
The hotel and its extension with panoramic views from the fifth floor terraces
He tells planning officers: “It seems the proposed limitation of access to one end of the balcony will ensure Hope Place properties are not overlooked.”
He adds: “The association is keen to support the hotel and also to protect those living in the locality. It would suggest the conditions are varied as requested for a trial period with monitoring of noise levels, prior to any definitive change to the conditions previously imposed.”
Dr Williams told Liverpool Confidential: “If there is a noise problem I am confident that members will lose no time in informing environmental health.”
A 15-page report giving details of what is proposed has been submitted on behalf of the hotel by its consultants, The Planning Studio.
Their report states: “The hotel management are fully aware of the concerns that the council has and can assure the council that it is not their intention to allow any noisy activity to take place on the fifth floor balcony and no amplified noise will be allowed to be audible at the nearest residential properties.
The bit overlooking Hope Place will be blocked off to visitors
“It is the hotel’s own interest to ensure the activity that takes place on the balconies is conducted in a quiet and respectful manner as the balconies are directly below and above guest bedrooms.
“The hotel management does not allow any music or other source of loud noise to be heard outside in the balcony areas and for that they work the function room activities on the advice from their noise consultant, who has been involved in this case since the first use of the balconies over two years ago.”
The consultants add the current restriction is harmful to the hotel’s efforts to be fully responsive to its customer requests for use of the hotel extension facilities.
