WYCHAVON has begun to put pressure on the developers of the historic Raven Hotel to get the ball rolling after vandalism and trespassing has blighted the site in recent weeks.
The district council’s chief executive, Vic Allison, told Droitwich residents at an public meeting on Monday (March 11) they were ‘applying as much pressure as possible’ on the owner and developer – Inroka – to get on with the works.
Progress of the Raven’s development was an important topic of discussion at the meeting which gave Droitwich residents an opportunity to discuss issues with representatives from Droitwich Spa Town Council, Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon District Council, West Mercia Police and various other community groups.
Members from Wychavon District Council held a meeting with the owners and developers recently and can confirm the Section 106, which will allow for full planning permission to go ahead, will be signed and ready shortly.
Mr Allison said: “We met with the owner to check on progress and inject a little bit more pace in terms of the redevelopment proposals.
“The Section 106 agreement has not yet been signed by the district and county council but we shall do that.
“More urgent repairs to combat water ingress at the site need to get underway, which will hopefully be done quickly.”
The plans for the Raven Hotel include 48 houses and flats – nine of them facing onto St Andrew’s Street, another apartment block.
The ground floor could also house a gin bar and, potentially, the returned brine baths.
As part of the development, modern extensions would be demolished back to the listed building, leaving the 15th to 18th Centrury core plus the ’19th Century bookends’ either side.
Following various problems with vandalism and trespassing at the site, security measures have been stepped up including increased CCTV and the boarding up of the site to limit access.
A sign at the front of the site warns about the presence of guard dogs.
