Developer 'committed' to £12m hotel plan

Three restaurants have been built on the site but most is still used for car parking

A delayed £12m hotel on the site of a former Nottinghamshire bus station is still set to be built, officials have said.

Permission was granted for the 100-bed hotel - which was expected to bring £5m a year to the local economy - in 2020 as a flagship project on Stockwell Gate in Mansfield.

Work was due to begin in 2021 but it failed to materialise, with inflation in the construction industry blamed.

A Mansfield District Council meeting has now been told that despite delays, the developers "remain committed".

Expert advisers

The bus station relocated from its council-owned site in 2013 and three standalone restaurants have already been built there, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Stuart Richardson, portfolio holder for regeneration and growth on the Labour-controlled council, told Tuesday's meeting that work with the developer, Arba, was ongoing.

He said: “Conditions have not been favourable in recent years and construction has been hit hard by pandemic, inflation and interest rate increases.

“I met Arba recently. While conditions are improving, they’re not yet able to commence the project.

“They have agreed to bring in expert advisers for a refreshed case. I am encouraged Arba remain committed.”

Mr Richardson also confirmed the council was not looking at using any break options in its contract with the developer.

When the project was initially approved Richard Burns, managing director at Arba, said: “It’s a major scheme that not only brings much-needed hotel beds to Mansfield, but one that has the potential to create hundreds of jobs.”