PLANS to bring a budget hotel to Winchester High Street have been approved – despite objections from a major Winchester organisation.

The controversial proposals will now see a 62-bedroom Travelodge developed in the heart of the city taking over a number of empty units.

The go-ahead follows changes to the designs after criticism from a number of people and organisations, as well as Winchester City Council's urban Design officer.

But despite the alterations, the plans still drew criticism from the City of Winchester Trust, a group set up to protect the city's heritage.

A spokesman for the trust said: "The almost total lack of modelling causes a troubling out-of-character blandness. On the High Street elevation there are no cornices or string courses, no distinctive parapet detail and no robust window surrounds, all of which would provide subtle shadow lines.

"In Market Street there is also a puzzling lack of emphasis at the hotel entrance, especially in comparison with the Wessex on the other side of the road. This does not mean that such features have to copy traditional detailing; in the past, whatever the period, skilled devices were incorporated into the prevailing style to provide a degree of interest and coherence that is so lacking in this proposal.

"The trust therefore continues to object to this application."

Urban design officer Dr Hatem Nabih has not commented on the application since the plans were amended.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of addition parking included in the scheme, but a transport statement, produced by consultants CampbellReith on behalf of applicants The London Borough of Southwark Pension Fund, felt it was not needed.

As previously reported, the new hotel will occupy the former Next units at the bottom of the High Street, next to Rick Stein's upmarket restaurant and Debenhams, and a short walk from the cathedral and Winchester Guildhall.

The site, which has remained empty since Next left the High Street in June, would undergo extensive redevelopment with 'dramatic' changes to the visual appearance of the site.

However, the plans would keep the ground floor as retail outlets, with the hotel sitting above and access via a foyer in Market Lane.

Despite the specific criticisms, the idea of bringing a hotel to High Street received support, including from the City of Winchester Trust.