Hotel painted pink without permission to be redone

A landmark hotel is to be repainted after the owners turned parts of the façade pink without permission.

Caedmon House, which forms part of the East Terrace of The Royal Hotel in Whitby, was painted a bright cerise despite not having the necessary listed building consent.

Applicant LTK Whitby Ltd has now asked North Yorkshire Council to approve plans to repaint the building in a neutral "iced gem" colour.

In documents submitted to the authority, it said a change to the colour scheme was "essential" to sustain the business, make it "more attractive" and make a "greater contribution to the economic and social life of Whitby".

The Royal Hotel is situated on the West Cliff of Whitby and was built in the early 19th Century, the Local Democracy Service reports.

​Caedmon House is physically connected and functions as part of The Royal Hotel, but forms part of another Grade II listing, relating to three other properties: Kirby's Hotel and numbers 5 and 6 East Parade.

LTK Whitby Ltd said after the main façade of Caedmon House was painted without listed building consent, it was initially believed the issue could be resolved through a listed building enforcement notice, which would order the building to be repainted in an agreed colour.

​However, it said, a case officer had since confirmed the notice could not be used to approve a new colour and would require the building to be repainted in its original colour.

The​ plans submitted state the proposal would "not result in a harmful change to the experience of the historic or architectural setting of the building".

​The proposal is currently open to representations from members of the public.

North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the application.

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