‘KEY ELEMENTS of the original former Raven Hotel can be saved’ – that was the view of Historic England which visited the site on Wednesday after the devastating fire which destroyed the building.
The blaze ripped through the centuries-old structure on Sunday with fire crews spending hours overnight and into the next morning to extinguish the blaze.
Picture by Paul Harley. s
Two teenage girls, aged 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and have since been released on bail.
On Wednesday, Wychavon District Council met at the site with representatives from Historic England, structural engineers, building surveyors, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police. A representative for the former hotel also attended.
Wychavon has also commissioned its own structural engineer who is preparing a detailed report due to be completed shortly.
Making site safe
The immediate priority is to make the site safe which will involve fencing off the area to protect the public and the controlled demolition of those parts of the hotel that pose a safety risk. This will safeguard the historic elements which remain.
Some residents have asked why the council had not made a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the site.
In response, the authority said CPOs could only be used as a last resort, requiring a robust legal case which could take up to two years to complete.
In this instance, the owner had planning permission granted three years ago and had publicly confirmed its intention to bring the site forward for development, including at the South Worcestershire Development Plan Examination earlier this year. This meant the legal threshold for a CPO was not met.
The building has always remained in private ownership and responsibility for its maintenance and security lies with the owner
Wychavon has monitored the Grade II listed building and issued the owner with a court order in November under Section 77 of the Building Act 1984 to make the site safe.
Work that was ordered to be done was due to be completed this month and the council will still recoup the cost of this work from the owner.
‘Deeply emotional moment’
Wychavon District Council leader, Coun Richard Morris, said the fire had been a ‘deeply emotional moment’ for the community.
“This building is woven into Droitwich’s history, and I know how many treasured memories are tied to it.
“To see it in this state is devastating, and I completely understand the sadness and frustration people are feeling – I feel it too.”
He added the owner had committed to redeveloping the site and constantly reassured that commitment.
“Our focus now is on protecting what can be saved, working hand-in-hand with the owners, Historic England, heritage bodies and our community to make sure the Raven’s story continues in some form for future generations.
“I’m grateful to everyone who has been working tirelessly since the fire – your efforts mean a great deal to our town.”
As the structural and conservation assessments are finalised, Wychavon said it would continue to play an active role in discussions about the site’s future.
