Riverside hotel expansion appeal successful

The expansion of a hotel that will nearly double the number of bedrooms there has been given the go-ahead despite previously being rejected by a council.

The Captain's Club Hotel and Spa in Christchurch, Dorset, currently has 17 bedrooms and 12 suites, and the expansion will add 29 extra bedrooms and seven suites.

The project was initially rejected by BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council in June 2023 but a planning inspector overturned that last week.

Bhupinder Thandi said the impact of the expanded hotel, which sits alongside the River Stour, will not lead to an "unacceptable change" for people living nearby.

Concerns were raised by BCP Council about residents being overlooked and suffering light pollution and disturbance.

But the application was formally approved on Thursday.

You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.