THE transformation of an historic town hotel into new homes, a brine bath and a gin bar looks set to be approved.
The latest plans for the once-luxurious Raven Hotel in Droitwich town centre would see modern extensions to the listed building demolished to make way for 48 new homes and flats alongside space for a new gin bar and brine baths.
The deteriorating building, parts of which date back to the 16th century, has been empty since 2010 and vandalised several times.
Wychavon District Council’s planning committee meets in Pershore on July 21 with a recommendation from planning officers that the work is approved.
A report, which will be discussed by the planning committee, said the work would “rescue” the Victoria Square building and should be approved.
“The proposal would rescue this important listed building and revitalise a key site within the Droitwich conservation area,” it said.
“It would help to meet the ongoing need to provide new homes, provide premises for new brine baths and a commercial space so that key parts of the old Raven Hotel would be opened back up to the public.
“The proposals have been carefully considered, negotiated and amended to provide an attractive, high quality and viable scheme that can move forward so that the site can be brought back into use after years of being vacant.
“As with all negotiations, some compromises have been made along the way. In this case, these have mainly been required in order to achieve a viable scheme that will actually be developed.
"These compromises include a shortfall in the amount of open space within the scheme, the loss of a mature tree and substandard parking provision including zero parking provision for one-bedroom flats.
“This is a much-needed development that would both preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the listed building and the conservation area.”
Large parts of the site were destroyed by fire in 2012 and the building was stripped almost entirely of its metal, including copper pipes, wires, radiators and bannister rails, by vandals in January.
Photos taken from inside the dilapidated building showed that part of the roof had collapsed.
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