WORKS to secure the Raven Hotel ensuring immediate risks to the public are removed have now been completed by Wychavon District Council.
The council have undertaken scaffolding and additional propping works to secure the structure and make the site safe following the building owner’s – Live Urban Two – failure to comply with it’s court order.
Work to make the roof watertight to protect the building from further weather damage, also covered by the November 2024 issued court order, is ongoing.
The district council secured the court order in November requiring works by the owner to make the building safe and decided to carry out the works themselves in default as a result of the owner’s inaction.
It followed an incident on September 24 where parts of the guttering on the section of the building that is set to be demolished fell into the road.
They had until December 8 to comply with the order. But inspections carried out later that month found the required work had either not been carried out or was inadequate.
Wychavon will now also survey the property to identify other repair work the owner will be required to carry out to adequately maintain the property.
Following the developer’s inactions in December, Councillor Richard Morris, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, said: “The owner has had chance after chance to show they are serious about protecting one of Droitwich, and Wychavon’s, key heritage assets and they have failed to deliver every time.
“We’ve now lost confidence in their ability to protect the building and the public which is why we are taking this action.
“We’ll ensure the necessary work is carried out as soon as is practically possible.
“We’ve also asked officers to explore all available options to safeguard the building’s future.”
Wychavon has entered into a section 106 agreement with the developer, requiring them to pay certain sums of money associated with the sites development. The sums to be paid relate to affordable housing, sport, open space, active travel, footpath works and community travel.
