Lyndhurst: Topping-out ceremony held as homes replace hotel

A topping-out ceremony has taken place at the site formerly occupied by the Lyndhurst Park Hotel, which dominated the eastern entrance to the village.

It comes ten tears after the 59-bed hotel closed with the loss of more than 20 jobs.

Plans submitted by Burry & Knight, part of Hoburne Development, were given the green light by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) in 2022.

The front of the Lyndhurst Park Hotel will be retained and used to provide some of the new housing (Image: Newsquest.)

Now, Hoburne Development has staged a rooftop ceremony to mark the progress achieved so far.

A company spokesperson said: "Phase one of this landmark development has reached its highest point of construction, and to celebrate the historic occasion contractors, and dignitaries from Hoburne came together for a topping-out ceremony.

"Topping out is an age-old tradition in the building industry and has been adopted as a way of marking the end of each phase of construction."

READ MORE: New image shows how multi-million-pound housing scheme will transform old hotel site

Hoburne’s non-executive director, Rosie Kennar, who helped install a circular plaque, added: "Today marks a historic occasion for the village of Lyndhurst and, as a local, family-run business, we are extremely proud to be offering this development and giving back to the communities in which we build.

“The Lyndhurst Park Hotel holds many fond memories, not only for me and my family but for the whole village. It's an honour to be associated with such a landmark development, and one of such significance.”

Most of the Lyndhurst Park Hotel has been demolished to make way for three shops and almost 80 new homes (Image: Newsquest)

Phase one of the scheme began in February 2023.

Now that the external build is nearing completion, the focus is shifting to the interiors ahead of its anticipated opening later this year. So far, Hoburne has built 30 apartments, six houses, and three retail units.

As reported in the Daily Echo, most of the hotel has been demolished to make way for the showpiece development.

The building's historic facade has been retained and will be used to provide some of the housing.

[Part of the three-storey hotel collapsed in 2020, leaving a gaping hole in the building (Image: Supplied)

In 1912 the hotel was redesigned with the help of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, who was a frequent visitor to the Forest.

Three years after it closed it emerged that vandals were targeting the site. Conservationists complained that a "priceless" stained-glass window installed in the 19th century was one of several items that had been damaged or destroyed by intruders.

In 2020 a three-storey section of the hotel collapsed, leaving a huge hole in the back of the complex.