Peterborough 'eyesore' Bretton Court set to be sold to developer
Plans have been drawn up to sell the ‘eyesore’ Bretton Court in Peterborough to a developer.
Moves to sell the four storey building, which has largely been left boarded up with overgrown landscaping for years, could be agreed by councillors on June 30.
The move would bring to an end years of uncertainty over the future of the building which has been at the centre of a dispute between Peterborough City Council and Cross Keys Homes for years.
But it has meant that little work has been done on the building which has become an eyesore for many people living nearby.
Now the council is expected to surrender its two leases in the property in a move that will allow the owner, Medesham Homes, to sell the property to a local developer, which has already made an offer for the premises.
Members of the council’s shareholder committee will be told on June 30: “The Medesham board has taken the decision to sell the property and has received an offer from a local developer which, subject to approval, Medesham board would like to proceed with the sale of the property.
"The local developer has completed preliminary design work as part of the process. Heads of terms have been agreed for the sale.”
Bretton Court has five ground floor retail units, and former offices on the first, second and third floor.
There is also a vacant ground floor pub and rear car park.
Bretton Court was originally purchased by Medesham which wanted to convert the building or redevelop the site.
A planning application was even approved for the conversion of a former public house into a retail unit and office and the conversion of the upper floors into 45 apartments plus a second-floor extension.
But councillors will be told that Medesham, originally a joint venture company between the council and Cross Keys Homes, is being restructured.
However, before that can happen the future of Bretton Court has to be agreed with Medesham now having ‘no intention’ to start construction works.
Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes said: “It is welcome news that the council and Cross Keys Homes are both focused on getting work to regenerate Bretton Court started.
"This is an important part of the city and the regeneration has been left to drag for too long. "We aren’t done yet and will be keeping pressure up to get a plan in place and work started.”