People in Lyme Regis have the chance today [15 September] to view options for The Three Cups site.

At a public exhibition in The Pilot Boat, Palmers Brewery will unveil proposals for the former hotel and surrounding land.

The plans are the fruit of more than seven months consultation between Palmers, town and district councillors and planning officers. The views expressed shaped the options being presented at the consultation day. Meetings have also taken place with the Save The Three Cups group.

The proposals consist of three development options, plus some core elements common to all three.

The core elements included in all options are:

• Preserve the historic Broad Street frontage of The Three Cups.
• Ground floor commercial or retail use in The Three Cups building fronting Broad Street and additional units at the rear. Allows public access to ground floor of historic building and offers economic benefits to Lyme.
• Residential units on upper floors of Three Cups building plus a small terrace of mews houses – essential to pay for the multi-million pound costs of regenerating the site.
• Redeveloped passageway leading through from Broad Street into vibrant, attractive retail and restaurant area behind Three Cups building.
• New-build, upmarket restaurant of approximately 64 covers in the area behind the Three Cups building. Could attract a celebrity chef.
• Path linking through to Langmoor Gardens.

The three options for additional aspects of the site development are as follows:

• Option A: Core elements with addition of a sunken home in the land beyond the restaurant.
• Option B: Core elements, plus six ‘beach hut’ styled rooms on the land beyond the restaurant and two further double rooms in the roof space of the restaurant. Between then, these rooms would provide at least 16 bed spaces for nightly let on the site.
• Option C: Core elements but with enlarged restaurant and expanded terrace taking up more space.

John Palmer, managing director of Palmers Brewery, explained the thinking behind the plans:

‘We are committed to finding a future for the site that is both economically viable and benefits Lyme Regis.

‘In the last year we have fully investigated the possibility of re-opening the Three Cups building as a hotel, but the independent study as verified by West Dorset District Council’s own experts has confirmed it is an unviable proposition.

‘We have worked hard with local representatives from the town to find alternative ideas that will preserve the Three Cups building and revitalise the area.

‘Now we want to hear what everyone in Lyme thinks of the options so that we can choose the best scheme to develop further for a planning application.’

The exhibition will be open from 12.30pm to 9pm. Palmers’ representatives will be on hand to explain the three options under consideration and people will be invited to submit written comments.