The council has said it remains "committed" to the redevelopment of one of Bristol's eyesores despite a fire overnight. A fire broke out at the site of the derelict Grosvenor Hotel in Bristol on Tuesday night (October 18).
This afternoon, Avon Fire and Rescue Service said although the flames have been extinguished, there are concerns about the building's stability and people are still advised to 'stay away'. Fencing has been put up in the immediate vicinity.
The building has been empty and decaying for at least 20 years, and has been the subject of years of debate and discussion over what should happen to it. Bristol City Council has been trying to buy or compulsory purchase the former hotel.
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A spokesperson from Bristol City Council said: “The Grosvenor Hotel is privately owned and has been in a poor condition for several years. The mayor and cabinet have laid out plans to develop Temple Square, made up of the Grosvenor Hotel site, along with the old George and Railway Hotel and the land in between, which will complement our ambitions for the wider Temple Quarter regeneration programme.
“Proposals for Temple Square are for new employment space with a mix of ground floor uses. The listed George and Railway would be redeveloped, and a new building on the site of the Grosvenor Hotel would be constructed with the council having in place authority to compulsorily purchase the site.
"New high-quality public realm would be created between the office buildings to connect Temple Meads station with the Brunel Mile and the rest of the city. We await further details about the condition of the site, but we remain committed to our ambition to support the redevelopment of the area to create a world-class welcome to Bristol at Temple Quarter.”
The Grosvenor Hotel has been the subject of an international property developer scandal which saw investors fleeced of up to £9 million, a series of court cases and a property developer on the run abroad and wanted by the courts in London.
A cabinet report has previously outlined how taking over and restoring the two historic buildings were key elements to the regeneration of the Temple Meads area. The council has made many big announcements about its plans for the two buildings before - including in 2018 when they unveiled artists’ impressions of what the area might look like.
No one was injured in the fire but people in a neighbouring building were evacuated. The cause is still unknown and investigations are ongoing, with fire crews still on scene.
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