War of words as airport hotel battle deepens
04.08.07
Two of the Northeast's leading businessmen have launched a war of words over rival plans for Durham Tees Valley Airport hotels. As reported earlier this week, Northcare Developments, owned by George Houghton, the chairman of Darlington Football Club, has won planning approval for an 80-bedroom hotel next to the entrance to the airport.
However Durham Tees Valley Airport's managing director Hugh Lang, who opposed the planning application, believes the new hotel will undermine plans for their own 100-bedroom airport hotel, part of a wider £56m scheme with business park. These plans were approved earlier in the year.
Mr. Lang has launched a blistering attack on his rival. He says planners at Darlington Council should not have granted Mr. Houghton's project planning permission as there is not enough demand for hotel beds at the airport to support both schemes. Mr. Houghton has branded Mr. Lang's comments as 'a massive overreaction'.
Mr. Lang said: 'We have taken 2½ years to get to this stage with our development and had to take in a whole range of conditions including things like highway upgrades. We are disappointed that somebody can now come in under the radar and get permission for another hotel. We have permission for our development based on the needs of the airport. Is there a need for another hotel?'
But Mr. Houghton responded: 'Northcare's hotel plan near the airport is part of our £100m investment strategy in and around Darlington. There is no doubt that the area needs new hotels and I have presented a perfectly viable planning proposal that has been accepted on its merits.'
'Durham Tees Valley Airport does not have a divine right to priority in the planning system. There has been a massive overreaction by the airport's managing director. Instead he should be ready to compete to provide passengers and the public with the facilities they need and deserve. Simply complaining because an enterprising company has entered the market will not do.'
Northcare's new hotel will be built on land north of Cleveland Motor Homes, near Middleton St George. Approving the application, Darlington Borough Council's planning committee said that they were concerned with planning issues, not commercial ones. It is not known when work on hotel, due to be three stories high in an 'L' shape, will begin.
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