UK’s first Passivhaus hotel in Runswick Bay, near Whitby, 'tops out'

A previous hotel on the site was demolished to make way for the multi-million-pound build of the 19,321 square ft, high-spec, 20-bed coastal hotel which is being project managed by Silverstone Building Consultancy and built by Stainforth Construction.

Located on a clifftop at Runswick Bay, the new building – Cliffemount - will deliver class-leading thermal and airtightness performance, meaning the property will require a much lower amount of energy to heat and maintain temperature, than a standard construction.

The grand opening of Cliffemount is scheduled for Autumn 2027.

Ben Rennocks, director at Silverstone Building Consultancy, said: “Seeing the roof structure installed is a huge, gratifying milestone for this complex and incredibly exciting project.

“The Passivhaus benchmark is more commonly aspired to by new-build housing projects and is rarely applied to commercial buildings so there is a lot of research and learning involved and we’re enjoying the challenge.”

The hotel was acquired in 2022 by Karen Fojt and her family, with the aim of giving something back to the area after spending many happy, family holidays at the Bay over 15 years.

Melissa Tomlinson, Managing Director of Cliffemount, Octopi Property, said: “It’s wonderful to see the property reach its full height.

"Our family purchased the former Cliffemount Hotel with a very clear vision of building a sustainable hotel that would have a positive impact on the local community and a lot of work has gone into making it achievable.”

The hotel has been designed by Bowman Riley Architects and Hexa Consulting.

Silverstone Building Consultancy, a firm of chartered building surveyors and project managers with offices in Leeds, Newcastle and London, has previously managed the restoration of a number of hotels for The Inn Collection Group’s portfolio, including The Harrogate Inn, Ripon Spa Hotel and the former Park Hotel, Tynemouth.