A luxury hotel’s illegally built treehouses in Surrey sparked a two-year dispute, now resolved with demolition plans.
A rich hotel owner, Surinder Arora, built them. He didn’t get permission first. He apologized and promised not to do it again. He owns the Fairmont Windsor Hotel.
People complained the treehouses changed the green belt. This happened when the council looked at the project. They met on February 27th to decide.
The treehouses are near the hotel parking lot. You can only spot them from two spots. Guests get to climb up to wooden decks, each with two bedrooms and a suite.
The hotel group will tear down ten other buildings. These include old stables and cabins. This is to make up for the treehouses. They are built on green belt.
One person, Amanda Willis, opposed the treehouses. She said they hurt the green belt’s character. She felt the old buildings fit in better. A council member, Priya Mehta, agreed. She called them houses in trees, not treehouses.
She thought removing the buildings wasn’t enough. However, planners said demolishing buildings helps. They showed it lessened the impact on the green belt. It rebalanced the harm, in their view.
Another council member, Mark Nuti, supported the hotel. He said it helps the local economy. He stated it brings tourists. The hotel is a five-star place.
The project improved nature on the site. It had a 20 percent increase. Officials felt these good things outweighed the harm. They then suggested approving the plan.
Council members were annoyed the owner built without asking. He had done it before with the hotel. Despite that, they approved the treehouses. Nine voted yes, four voted no.
Officials will now watch the hotel closely. They want to be sure everything is followed. The hotel group must pay a fee to cover the costs. The fee is £15,000.
The hotel also added tennis and padel courts, along with an outdoor gym. The hotel restricted padel court lights. The council will have the lights removed within three months.