Work under way on scaffolded Grade II listed hotel

Work is continuing both on-site and behind the scenes to protect a much-loved hotel in Shropshire, a council has said.

The Royal Victoria Hotel in Newport has been covered in scaffolding and surrounded by hoardings for months.

Telford & Wrekin Council has said that despite no visible work going on outside the Grade II listed building in St Mary's Street, there are developments both on-site and in the legal department.

Councillor Carolyn Healy, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, planning and sustainability, said work that began in November had continued.

She said the council issued an urgent works notice in March 2024, but the owner, Town Centre Properties, "failed to comply", she said.

Healy 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."

Work to secure a compulsory purchase order is also continuing behind the scenes, she added.

In November, owner Roger Brock told the BBC the council had made unfair demands and he was raising the matter with the government.

Mr Brock has shown the BBC copies of letters sent to the government last October in which he claimed the site was being developed as affordable housing and asked ministers to intervene in "this unjustified action" by the council.

In March 2023, Telford & Wrekin Council said an ongoing investigation by the local authority 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 would remain in place until the work is complete.

Businesses in St Mary's Street remain open and people have been encouraged by the council to shop locally to support them.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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