Work continuing to protect much-loved Newport hotel
A council says work is continuing both on-site and behind the scenes to protect a much-loved hotel in Newport.
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The Royal Victoria Hotel, in St Mary’s Street, has been covered in scaffolding and surrounded by hoardings for months.
Telford & Wrekin Council said that despite no visible work going on outside the Grade II Listed building on Wednesday this week, things are happening both on-site and and in the legal department.
Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability, said the work began in November and continues.
Telford & Wrekin Council issued an Urgent Works Notice in March 2024 after the owner Town Centre Properties ‘failed to comply’ and it stepped in.
She said: “As a result, and to safeguard this historic Grade II Listed building, Telford & Wrekin Council stepped in to complete the works and will be recovering full costs from the owners.
“This work began in November and continues, having paused over the Christmas holiday period.”
She added that work to secure a compulsory purchase order is also continuing behind the scenes.
Councillor Healy said: “Alongside this, Telford & Wrekin Council is also working to secure a Compulsory Purchase Order on the building, at minimal consideration, which is currently going through legal processes.”
In a statement in March 2023, Telford & Wrekin Council said an ongoing investigation by the council and an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive deemed the hotel building and its supporting structure to be unsafe.
An ‘exclusion zone’ was placed directly outside the hotel and will remain in place until the work is complete.
Businesses in St. Mary’s Street remain open and people are encouraged to continue to shop local to support them.
