Developer's 'heartbreak' over hotel gutted by fire

Fire crews were called to the Raven Hotel in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, following a fire at the Grade II listed site

A developer "heartbroken" over an alleged arson attack on a historic former hotel has pledged to protect its heritage .

Fire gutted the landmark Raven Hotel in the centre of Droitwich Spa on Sunday afternoon, causing caused parts of the Grade II listed building to collapse.

Inroka Limited has been working for more than three years on a scheme to convert the site, which has been plagued by break-ins and vandalism, into housing and a gin bar.

Rajinder Singh from the firm said: "We've done our very utmost to secure the building the best that we can but if they want to break in they're going to break in."

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said no-one was hurt in the incident, and two girls, aged 13 and 14, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and released on bail.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at the hotel at about 16:45 BST.

Residents gathered in tears behind cordons as they watched the building, some of which dates back to the 15th Century, burn.

Simon Cusack, group commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Due to the extent and the instability of parts of the building, it just very quickly started to collapse around us.

"So, really then it was just about trying to mitigate that damage and reduce the community impact."

Firefighters were equally heartbroken by the loss of the town's landmark, he said.

"We've got officers that got married at the Raven or they've had wakes at the Raven, or christenings, parties... it's really impacted our own staff as well."

The Raven shut as a hotel over a decade ago and has planning permission for new homes and a gin bar, but concerns have previously been raised over its condition and vandalism and trespassing at the site.

Wychavon District Council has been pushing the owners, Live Urban Two, to get on with its development.

It has also worked with the site's developer, Inroka Limited, for the past six months to ensure urgent works were done to protect the site, following a court order secured last year.

The authority said in a statement the works were due to finish this week and it would still invoice the owner for payment.

It added it would issue an update on the state of the structure following inspections.

Developer's 'good intentions'

Mr Singh said he arrived at the site on Tuesday and said he was horrified by what had happened.

"We've actually got a lot of passion for this building and to see what I'm seeing today, it's heartbreaking," he said.

He described the developers as "very conscientious", adding: "We've constantly been doing the right thing for this place.

In response to local frustration over delays to the building scheme, he said constant break-ins coupled with heritage considerations and financial challenges had made the project difficult.

The firm has been working with Wychavon Council, but "even collectively", had not been able to prevent the fire, Mr Singh said.

"The next stage is for us is to try and at least securitise as much as we can and demolish what we can demolish in order to make the building at least safe.

"And at least try and protect as much as we can protect in a listed building that's been damaged."

Mr Singh said the developers intended to continue working on the site.

"We started the project three years ago with good intentions and we're still here with good intentions moving forward," he said.

The Raven Hotel was "totally destroyed" by the fire, firefighters said

Residents who remembered the hotel were shocked and saddened by what had happened, Conservative Droitwich MP Nigel Huddleston told the BBC following a visit to the site on Sunday evening.

"People were in tears. People were telling me about stories or really fond memories of weddings and events," he said.

"It's part of the heart and soul of the town and nobody wants to see it disappear," he added.

He said the focus must now be on what can be done to preserve or rebuild parts of the privately-owned building, with Wychavon District Council in touch with its developers.

"None of us know yet what state the building is exactly in. It may have to be knocked down or there may be bits of it that could be rebuilt.

"We've got to make sure the wishes of local people count very highly too… the people of Droitwich feel like they own it."

He hopes parts of the distinctive black-and-white timbered frontage can be saved.

"It's part of the heart and soul of the town and nobody wants to see it disappear," he added.

"I'm sure there will continue to be some element of the Raven in the future, I'm confident of that."

The BBC has also asked owner Live Urban Two for comment.