THE Passage House Hotel, Hackney Lane, Kingsteignton, has won permission for an extension to provide 40 more bedrooms. Members, who had held a site inspection, unanimously gave the application the nod at Teignbridge Council Development Control Committee. Applicant Roger Haywood said he had been at the Passage House all his life and the hotel was opened 18 years ago. This was the final phase of the whole development, allowing the hotel to expand to meet the demand of tourists and the business community where there would be a growing need with future development in the area. That would bring a serious demand for quality hotel beds. Mr Haywood said that as regards the coastal preservation area, the extension site was in the least sensitive area and would have no effect on the environment. Council chairman Cllr Mike Walters pointed out that there were only two hotels in the Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton area and this was necessary to meet the increased demands of tourism and business. Cllr Chris Clarance was thrilled to see a hotel doing so well. 'This brings valuable extra employment and helps the economy of the area. 'I would like to wish the applicant every success with it,' he said.
