Cathedral's broken for height rule new hotel

CITY officials have allowed a hotel to break a 60-year-old planning rule created to preserve views of an ancient cathedral.

- By Matthew Dooley

Council bosses in Salisbury, Wilts, have given the green light for developers to transform an empty historic building into a five-star hotel and rooftop bar.

The move was declared a “landmark decision” due to a rule made more than six decades ago which limits the height of any new developments in the city to no more than 40ft in order to preserve the skyline view. The plans had initially been recommended for refusal. Salisbury’s famous medieval cathedral is a major tourist spot and its 404ft spire is the tallest in the country.