Snoozebox scheme gets the go ahead

The government planning committee has approved an application (12/00001/B) by London company Snoozebox Limited for the 240-bed hotel on the playing field next to the changing rooms.

In the application, Mark Savage, of agents Savage & Chadwick Architects, explained: ‘Snoozebox is a temporary hotel concept which provides accommodation at major motorsport and other events.

‘The company has been in discussion with the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure concerning the provision of a 240-bed facility at TT 2012 in response to substantiated survey figures which indicate that there is again likely to be a significant shortage of bed spaces when compared to visitor numbers.’

Snoozebox provides hotel bedroom pods within converted storage containers, linked by a walkway/staircase access gantries.

Food and drink is provided in a tented marquee next to the bedroom pods.

The facility needs no mains service or drainage, with electricity provided by temporary generators, drainage held in a sealed container, and water provided from a storage tanker.

The hotel will be set up in the week before practice week and dismantled and removed in the week after race week.

Approval was granted with a number of conditions.

They include that the site must be reinstated to its former condition within one month of the removal of the facility.

In addition, no development can take place until a traffic management plan has been approved.

It must include the routes for construction and service vehicles as well as a contingency plan in case adverse weather conditions prevent the use of the proposed grass parking area.

DED member Geoff Corkish MHK has previously expressed his support for the concept, saying that ‘in principle it is a great idea and I think this should provide excellent temporary accommodation for TT visitors’.

Douglas Council, which owns the park, has also given its support of the move.

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