A hotel chain that had been planning a multi-million pound refurbishment of the Coldeast Mansion in Sarisbury has pulled out of the deal.
Coldeast Mansion to be turned into a hotel
Sanguine Hospitality had planned to spend between £3m and £4m transforming the dilapidated mansion into a hotel and wedding venue.
But now they say the mansion has been allowed to go to “wrack and ruin” and the redevelopment is no longer viable.
The Liverpool-based company was chosen as the preferred developer by the HCA to restore and extend the derelict building and include a 104-space car park and 10-space staff car park.
However, the company has now backed out of the deal and its future will be discussed by Fareham Borough Council’s planning committee during a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday March 27).
Sanguine Hospitality chairman Simon Matthews-Williams said plans for his company to restore the mansion had been discussed since June 2006 with the HCA and Miller Homes – which are in joint venture for the Coldeast development. And he said the house builder and the HCA was to blame for the problems.
“My understanding was that Miller Homes was supposed to keep the building in good repair,” he said. “Clearly that has not happened. There is dry rot throughout the property, the ceiling is a state and it should have been kept water-tight.
“The Homes and Communities Agency should have made Miller Homes do that. It’s a lack of co-ordination between the Homes and Communities Agency and Miller Homes in keeping it in good order.
“We asked for a £25,000 contribution, with payment once the hotel had opened, and they turned us down on that.
“Today in the economic climate it’s not worth us spending £4m on repairing it. Not enough emphasis has been put on getting the manor house repaired. It’s sad really.”
Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of the council and who represents the Sarisbury ward, said: “The planning committee will meet to discuss ensuring the mansion gets restored.
“They plan to enter in an agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency to ensure a substantial sum of money is put in.
“The Homes and Communities Agency will be marketing the mansion house. If no developer has been signed up in the next two years, then we need to get a partial restoration fund for works to be carried out.
“It’s going to preserve a very valuable locally listed building.
“Now that this hotel group has dropped out we still want to make sure that the mansion gets preserved.
“They didn’t sign anything. As I understand it they were concerned about the costs of the refurbishments.”
Details of the exact amount of money to be spent on restoring the building cannot be confirmed, but Cllr Woodward said that it would be a seven figure sum.
It is hoped a new developer will be contracted in 2014.
The planning committee will meet at the civic offices at 2.30pm.