Plans for a mixed-use scheme opposite Hampton Court Palace in London has caused a stir among heritage organisations.

The scheme, proposed by developer Gladedale, includes the redevelopment of Hampton Court Station and 46-bedroom Jolly Boatman hotel, 603 sq m of commercial floor space and new areas of public space. Plans for the redeveloped four-storey hotel, which sits opposite the Tudor palace, has been the subject of particular controversy among members of Elmbridge Borough Council and heritage charity Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), which operates the Hampton Court Palace.

Those opposing the plans, designed by Quinlan & Francis Terry Architects, believe the commercial development will put the historic setting of King Henry VIII's former palace under threat. Historian David Starkey said: “Hampton Court is one of the three most important palace complexes to have survived in Europe. It is surrounded by a unique and magical landscape. Anything that gratuitously damages it isn’t a national scandal but an international scandal.”

HRP has appealed to the secretary of state to "urgently intervene to protect Hampton Court Palace from significant, irreparable damage from a proposed commercial development". In a letter to the government, HRP asks Hazel Blears to call in the application for her own determination following a public inquiry, as the plans raise issues of more than local importance. John Barnes, conservation and learning director at HRP, said, “We have tried for years to get a more sensitive approach adopted that would work with, rather than against, the historic setting of the palace and create a better environment for local people, but without success.

"Now that the council looks set to give this damaging development the go-ahead we have appealed to the Secretary of State as a last resort. Of course, we also want to see an end to the eyesore around Hampton Court Station caused by years of neglect, but the solution is not the scheme being proposed. This is more than a local matter and should now be decided in the broader arena of a public inquiry.” Although the council has approved the plans the application has been referred to a meeting of the Full Council on 18 December 2008.

If successful the development will also offer 66 residential units, retail space, a 61-bedroom care home and a refurbished railway station. Prior to the current plans, designed by Quinlan and Francis Terry, architects Allies and Morrison submitted designs for a similar development on the site, which initially received some opposition from English Heritage.

However, although English Heritage would prefer the land to be treated as a landscaped open space, it welcomes the new plans:"The scheme which includes a hotel designed by Quinlan and Francis Terry Architects would sit more comfortably with the established character of East Molesey and Hampton Court," a spokesperson told Leisure Opportunities. "The Secretary of State has now decided that this is a matter that can appropriately be determined by the local planning authority.

"The scheme includes the long overdue repair of Hampton Court Station and the creation of public spaces that will enhance the approaches to Hampton Court Palace. These works form an important part of the wider proposals for the Jolly Boatman Site and English Heritage welcomes these aspects of the scheme."