The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Great Northern plans approved but no date for start of work
Owner says time is not right for development to start
By Paul grinnell paul. grinnell@ jpress. co. uk Twitter: @ Paul Grinnell2 01733 588713 The owner of Peterborough’s Great Northern Hotel has declared the time is not right to start work on a multi- million pound development of the venue. Businessman Colin Hill’s comments come after plans for a £ 30 million redevelopment of the hotel in Station Approach, were given the green light.
The plans were unveiled just over a year ago and involve a seven storey extension to the 19th century hotel and the construction of ground floor cafes, substantial office accommodation and top floor apartments.
Theyalso involve doubling the number of rooms at the hotel and the creation of a new services area.
Mr Hill said; “There are a lot of empty premises in Peterborough at the moment and I don’t think the time is right to start this development.
“I don’t wish to start something and then put it down.
“It is just not the right time to begin these works.
He added: “The Great Northern Hotel is not being marketed and I do not wish to sell it.”
The plans were drawn up and submitted by Londonbased architects Assael Architecture.
The new buildings would provide 13,010 square metres of office space and six apartments and are seen as being a key part of Peterborough City Council’s plans to develop the area as the city’s Station Quarter.
Approval for the hotels’ plans comes after work to revamp the public entrance to the nearby Peterborough railway station was completed.
A£ 43million schemetoinstall new railway platforms, other facilities and footbridges to cater for a doubling of passenger numbers to eight million a year over the next 25 years is underway.
An Assael spokesman said: “As well as extending the hotel, the intention is to provide a new public space/ square as a newarrival point to the city.”
If the development takes place it will be an incredible revival for the hotel.
In 2009, the hotel was plunged into crisis after its then owner Mistvalley Ltd, run by Peterborough businessman Peter Boizot, was put into administration.
But by September the hotel was back in business after being bought by Switzerlandbased Boddleson SA, forwhich Mr Hill is the main spokesman.