Work to transform derelict Robin Hood Hotel in Newark now complete as new Travelodge

Work to transform the derelict Robin Hood Hotel in Newark is now complete.

The Travelodge chain has taken the lease for the 66-bedroom hotel while 900sq metres of ground floor units, suitable for a variety of uses, are being marketed for commercial tenants.

The site, derelict for more than 20 years, has been brought back into use in a joint venture between Newark and Sherwood District Council and landowner MF Strawson Ltd.

The council said it had taken many years of discussions, negotiations and planning applications to get to the position reached today.

Sanjiv Kohli, director of resources and deputy chief executive of the district council, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Niel Strawson, Tim Bradford of Banks Long and Co and Kevin Damarell of Lindum in bringing forward this iconic scheme.

“This development is a major element of the council’s town centre interventions and developments.

“We want to create further confidence in the town, increase and improve its profile to act as a catalyst for further investment in facilities, services and new developments for the local community.”

Niel Strawson, director of MF Strawson Ltd, said: “I am delighted, in conjunction with the council, to finally finish the Potterdyke development. It has been 18 years of hard work and I think the end result not only looks good, but will also be a great asset in the re-vitalising of the town centre.”

The council and MF Strawson Ltd have been heavily criticised ever since the Robin Hood re-development was not carried out as part of the planning consent that saw Asda and a number of retail units built on the site of the former Potterdyke carpark.

Strawsons said it could not afford the re-development on its own as the costs of bringing the building back into use were much more than originally envisaged.

English Heritage insisted the frontage, which is listed for protection, had to kept.

Using its reserves, the district council committed £3.3m to complete the development, knowing that, on completion, the hotel and the commercial space would be sold to an investor and the capital returned in full.

After more than a year of construction, the site is now complete.

Council leader David Lloyd said: “From the very offset we have been committed to re-opening the infamous Robin Hood Hotel doors to weary travellers.

“If we had not intervened in this iconic building’s development, we would not be where we are today. I am absolutely delighted to see the work on such a significant building in Newark now complete, at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer.

“I know residents are just as keen as I am to see an end to what was a long-standing blight on the town and I am thrilled to see the site restored and come back into use after so many years.

“I extend my thanks to the directors of RHH Newark Limited and the building contractors, Lindum, for forging ahead and making such fantastic progress, despite nearly a year of national restrictions.

“To deliver a redevelopment such as this throughout the pandemic is a huge credit to all involved.

“I am delighted to welcome Travelodge to the town, which, alongside the new commercial units, will bring new jobs and business to the town and district, as well as helping to support and grow the visitor economy.”

David Atkins, chairman of the Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust, which was heavily involved in the campaign for progress on the site, said: “I do believe that Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust, the Newark Civic Society and the Advertiser helped the council to fulfil its obligations to conserve the listed buildings of the old Robin Hood Hotel to the benefit of all.”

The council said the Travelodge Hotel development milestone marked the start of a major boost to Newark’s local economy, increasing visitor numbers to the district, increasing town centre footfall and helping redress the shortage of hotel accommodation in the Newark area.