A brightly-coloured motel on Dover’s docks has been given the green light despite concerns it is too vibrant.

The major scheme on the Western Dockside in Dover will see a 90-room motel with three blocks of rooms.

Another application for a separate swimming pool, restaurant and bar was also granted permission and will join the motel.

These projects will become an integral part of the Marina Curve and the £250 million redevelopment of Dover’s Western Docks Revival.

Previously the applicant, the Electric Motel Company from Brighton, had planned for the motel to be made from shipping containers, but a decision was deferred in April by councillors who claimed that shipping containers were unsuitable.

The redesign will now be made of three blocks, two with three floors and one with four floors, and will be cladded with timber.

Dover District Council’s planning committee discussed the new redesign yesterday.

'It will encourage visitors to stop, dwell and stay...'

Director of the Electric Motel Company, Clive Lynton, said the plans would create 60 new jobs in Dover and described the motel as “a waterfront destination”.

He said: “The applications are for an innovative regeneration scheme that will significantly enhance tourism in Dover and expand its economy, starting a new chapter in a post-Covid world.

“It will encourage visitors to stop, dwell and stay instead of just passing through to the ferries and cruise ships.”

While councillors praised the redesign for abandoning the previously criticised shipping containers, some were not content with the vibrant colour scheme on the new buildings.

Cllr Peter Jull said: “One thing that concerns me is the phrase ‘innovative colour scheme’.

“The last time somebody said that about a building in Dover it was the yellow building at Astor school, which is now an eyesore around the town.

“I would certainly be very disappointed if it ended up with something like that. Overall I’m not over enthused by the design but it is subjective.”

During the debate councillors asked what colours would be used on the buildings.

Planning officers said a “pearl gold” would be used on the motel and a teal blue for the swimming pool building.

Meanwhile, some councillors wanted something more iconic, and Cllr Edward Biggs asked why a design review hadn’t been carried out.

'We are putting a very bland rectangular building on a very iconic location...'

“To me if we are going to have a motel here then it needs to be something distinctive and something where people want to stay," he said.

“We are putting a very bland rectangular building on a very iconic location, and it seems very strange to me.”

Planning officers clarified that councillors should have asked for a design review at an earlier stage and it would be unfair on the applicant to carry one out now.

However, Cllr Nicholas Kenton was more positive about the design: “Dover does need a hotel and more of them.

“I would certainly say it’s distinctive, and I think on seafronts and around them you can get away with quite an interesting design. In many ways I would like something more out there.

“It’s good for Dover, I think the commercial area will be good to bring in footfall. Everyone will have a view on whether that’s attractive or not but I think in the seaside area it can work."

Another supporter of the redesign was Cllr Martin Bates, who said: “There’s clearly been a lot more thought into this revision and I think it’s a substantial improvement in comparison to what we had before.

“It has been supported by the Dover Port and Dover Town Council so I’m quite happy to accept this proposal.”

In a final vote the motel was approved with six councillors voting in favour and two against.