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Great Northern Hotel a building site again
Contractors work to demolish outbuildings at The Great Northern Hotel in Station Approach. (METP-13-07-10PF400) Picture: Paul Franks
THE owner of Peterborough’s landmark Great Northern Hotel has warned it could be demolished if its financial fortunes do not improve.
Now businessman Colin Hill has thrown the gauntlet down to the people of Peterborough to make use of the 161-year old hotel in Station Approach before it is too late.
The millionaire, who is a consultant for the owners Boddleson SA, said the hotel was losing money every month and there could come a time when the building had to be sold for redevelopment.
City planners earmarked the site for demolition in 2008 to make way for the £500 million Station Quarter development, but were met with fierce resistance from Peterborough Civic Society and city MP Stewart Jackson, among others.
But unless the hotel’s fortunes are reversed, Mr Hill said he could envisage it being sold for demolition or redevelopment, either to Peterborough City Council or to private owners, or leased to new operators.
He said: “We understand the love people have for this hotel, but they have to understand that we have spent millions refurbishing this hotel, but it is not getting the use that it should.
“We can’t keep picking up the tab for the shortfall, so if people want to keep it then they need to use it, or ultimately it could revert to being part of the city’s development plan and be demolished.
“We are more than happy to maintain the hotel but every month has been a struggle for us.
“At the moment we are taking the shortfall on the chin, but in six months or a year’s time, there may be a line where we say: ‘Enough is enough’.
“If things do not pick up over time we will be looking to close it, lease it, or redevelop it, what more can you do?”
Work is currently ongoing at the hotel to pull down disused outbuildings to the north of the site, which used to house staff quarters but are now empty and costing the company money in heating and business rates.
The demolition work is expected to take four weeks, during which time the council will decide whether to grant planning permission to build seven extra staff car parking spaces and room for delivery vehicles.
Peterborough Civic Society failed in a bid to get the building listed by English Heritage in 2006, and have continued concerns that the distinctive building is not adequately protected from demolition.
And society chairman Peter Lee said the society would continue to oppose any attempts to demolish the hotel, which was built in 1849.
He said: “I’m sure the society will want to do everything it can to keep the building.
“We certainly make use of the building, holding our meetings there, and I hope that it can be made into a viable financial proposition.
“It is one of a number of buildings from the Victorian era which I think are at risk in the city at the moment, and Peterborough would be greatly injured if it were demolished.”
Mr Jackson also hopes the hotel will prosper, but wants it kept as part of the Station Quarter project.
He said: “It is part of the architectural heritage of the city.
“I hope it turns a corner, but if not then we need to look at the proposals for including it as part of the wider Station Quarter project and hope it proves a commercial success.”
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Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
bronzerod
Monday, August 2, 2010 at 08:38 PMWHILST MR COLIN HILL THROWS A GAUNTLET AT PETERBOROUGH RESIDENTS, CAN HE REDRESS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE DUKE ELLINGTON SCULPTURE, WHICH WAS SITED IN THE GARDEN? IT IS IN HIS REMITT AND UNIQUELY HE HAS MAINTAINED SILENT ABOUT THIS MYSTERY. MR HILL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL WORKS TO THE DEVELOMENT, AND SO FAR HAS REMAINED SILENT ABOUT THIS ARTWORK. CAN HE PROVIDE A SUITABLE ANSWER OR IS HE GOING TO IGNORE HIS RESPONSIBILITY?
mp
Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 06:10 AMThe hotel needs to be downsized- its way too posh for the residents or the train travelers.
fedupwiththephantomdeleter
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 12:03 PMPerhaps they are put off going because they think Helen Clarke might be in the bar !
J J Carter
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 09:13 PMLunch is £17.50. All the jobs in P'boro are minimum wage warehousing and fruit picking. Is it any wonder that business is slack? Let's not see the few taxpayers left in P'boro held to ransom on another wheeze with Il Duce.
A local chap
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 08:41 PMI am sure that after their battle to save 80 Lincoln Road, the Civic Society, John Peach, Wayne 'back on the radio' Fitzgerald and all will be battling hard to save this one. Lets get it listed!
woody
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 04:55 PMIf Colin Hill thinks the hotel is going to be used by local people, well he is very much mistaken, room wise anyway. Let's here more about special event promotions, restaurant promotions, and has already been said, marketing it outside of the area for business visitors, transit passengers etc.
twink
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 04:25 PMOh, it's our fault for not using it? Well, Colin, you're a businessman - tell us why would we should use it? Surely you didn't think that simply opening the doors would be enough?
AliV
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 04:00 PMDid they get the photo at the top from Google streetview?
Bamboozler
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 03:40 PMI see another Bretton Woods School scenario coming along. Lets knock it down, because its performing well or not making enough money and no one is using it. When they have knocked it, they will most likely need a new hotel and low and behold everybody will use it, I think NOT! Look at the bigger picture, people don;t stay there because not so many are coming here and those that do, seek out cheaper establishments. Me thinks!, I wonder what the answer is?
rubygirl
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 03:22 PMComment removed by moderator
GJH
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 02:31 PM"Colin Hill has thrown the gauntlet down to the people of Peterborough to make use of the 161-year old hotel" Am I missing something? Why would the people of Peterborough make use of a hotel... when they already have HOMES in Peterborough to sleep in at night. Colin, publicise the hotel yourself to people OUTSIDE of Peterborough.
hissing cyd
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 02:14 PMTYPICAL PETERBOROIANS WILL NOT USE A COMMODITY THEN WHEN IT IS DESTROYED EVERY ONE IS UP IN ARMS. I GIVE THE OLD WATERFOWL GARDENS AS ONE EXAMPLE.
gonzales
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 02:01 PMPlus there is a VAT incentive if it is demolished!
Dalek Sec
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 01:59 PMJust knock it down and get it over with. If people don't use it they obviously don't want it.
gonzales
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 01:45 PMLet it be sold - Mr Hill is in it to make a profit and it will never pay its way as it is. Sell it and redevelop the site, just get on with it.
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