Council to buy coastal town's 'eyesore' hotel site

The hotel had a prominent place on the town's promenade

A compulsory purchase order has been issued to buy an "eyesore" site on a coastal town's promenade.

The Shannocks Hotel plot in Sheringham, which had been left as rubble after the building was demolished in 2021, will be bought by North Norfolk District Council.

Liberal Democrat council leader Tim Adams said the authority had explored “every avenue” and that issuing the order was a “last resort”.

Site owner Huddies said it remained "committed to its plans to redevelop its property" and it has written to the council "seeking clarification as to the next steps".

After it became derelict in 2010, the hotel was demolished in 2021

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting.

Liz Withington, a Liberal Democrat councillor representing Sheringham, said it would be “very much appreciated" in the town.

'Fig leaf'

The once-grand late Victorian hotel was described as an "eyesore" in the town's conservation area after it became derelict in 2010.

The owners eventually bulldozed the building in 2021, but three years later, no work had begun on its rebuild.

A spokesman for Huddies said: “[The council’s] interest in Huddies’ property is a fig leaf for the council’s longstanding desire to develop the adjacent Chequers Car Park.

“Huddies remains committed to its plans to redevelop its property without the loss of a vital public amenity and Huddies has written to the council seeking clarification as to the next steps.”

It is believed the council will seek to recoup the cost of purchasing the plot, but officers have warned it will not be able to recover all the money spent.

Discussions on how much it cost were held in private during the cabinet meeting.

It comes at a difficult time for the council, which is facing a near £1m financial deficit.