Attempts to stop the sale of Peterborough's Hilton hotel fail
It's after Conservative councillors secured a debate after raising concerns money could be lost.
Plans to put the unfinished Hilton hotel at Fletton Quays in Peterborough up for sale have been given the green light, after an attempt by Conservative councillors to block the move was defeated.
Peterborough City Council originally borrowed £15 million from the government in 2017 to loan to developers for the construction of the 160-bedroom hotel overlooking the River Nene, which was to include a rooftop bar and an al fresco terrace.
But eight years on, the hotel remains about 80% complete, unoccupied, and has been described as pigeon-infested, with key features like lifts and gyms still not finished. The original opening had been planned for 2019.
Earlier this month, the council’s cabinet agreed to instruct administrators to sell the site, but the decision was called in for further scrutiny by members of the Conservative group.
A special committee met on Monday (20 October) to consider the move but decided to uphold the cabinet’s decision, passing it by six votes to three.
Despite concerns, the scrutiny committee ruled that the sale should proceed, with council leaders insisting the Hilton group remains supportive and that the move will help bring the site back into use as quickly as possible.