IRONBRIDGE – Grade II* Listed Hotel Extension & New Guest Facilities
Planning Approval Secured | Heritage-Led Hotel Expansion | Split-Level Contemporary Design
Osbornes Architects secured planning permission for a major extension to a Grade II* listed hotel in Ironbridge, located within the historic Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site. The proposals include a 27-bedroom extension positioned on a steeply sloping part of the site, together with a new kitchen and dining room extension at the rear of the existing hotel.
The project required overcoming several significant architectural and logistical challenges presented by the historic layout. A key part of the design process involved maintaining access to the existing service area at the rear of the hotel while simultaneously creating a fully internal link between the existing and new accommodation wings—ensuring guests can access the new bedrooms without leaving the hotel.
The extension takes a split-level form, stepping carefully with the natural contours of the site and nestling into the surrounding trees. This approach minimises visual impact, reduces excavation requirements, and allows the building to sit more naturally within its landscape setting.
Architecturally, the bedroom wing adopts a contemporary design language that draws from the massing, rhythm and roofscape of the existing hotel. Crisp detailing, generous glazing and a focus on natural daylighting enable a clean modern expression that remains sympathetic to the historic context. Importantly, the approach allows future generations to clearly read the evolution of the site, a principle strongly supported by conservation officers.
