Sale of Peterborough's Bretton Court to pave the way for area's transformation
A neglected area of Peterborough is expected to be transformed if a property sale gets the go ahead.
The sale of the four storey Bretton Court is effectively set to be approved by members of Peterborough City Council’s ruling cabinet on July 21.
Councillors are being advised to surrender the local authority’s two leases in the property in a move that will allow the owner, Medesham Homes, to sell Bretton Court to a local developer, which has already made an offer for the premises.
An officers’ report to the committee states: “Redevelopment of the site has the potential to improve the appearance and perception of the local area, replacing a run-down building with a development that better reflects community aspirations.
It adds: “Redevelopment may create opportunities for new homes, commercial activity, or community use, improvement the overall contribution of the site to local service provision and economic activities compared to its current vacant site.”
Bretton Court and the surrounding area has become an eyesore for people living nearby for years.
Much of the building is boarded up and covered in graffiti and the surrounding land is overgrown.
The blame for the appearance has been put on an ongoing ownership dispute by the council and Cross Keys Homes, which had joint control over Medesham Homes.
The mess had even prompted one resident, Alan Gasparutti, to write to the council’s chief executive calling on him to ‘ensure that something is sorted out about Bretton Court, which has been standing idle for over 18 years.
He stated: “It is an eyesore to the residents of Bretton, will not encourage people moving into the area, and will never help the image of this city.”
Now a restructuring of Medesham has paved the way for the sale of Bretton Court.
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.
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.”