Robin Hood investment sought

The company behind plans to redevelop the site of the former Robin Hood Hotel, Newark, has asked Newark and Sherwood District Council to make a financial contribution towards the project, the Advertiser can reveal.

The site, on Beaumond Cross, has been derelict for almost 20 years.

MF Strawsons was given planning permission in July to incorporate the listed frontage of the former hotel into a new 66-bedroom Travelodge as part of a £5.5m scheme.

At the meeting where planning consent was granted, district councillors expressed their desire that work started without delay to rid the town of the eyesore.

It was hoped that, when the Department for Communities and Local Government then decided not to call in the committee’s decisions, work would start imminently.

However, it has emerged Strawsons has approached the council for help in paying for the work.

In a statement, the council said: “The developer has approached the council for a financial contribution and we are exploring the options surrounding that.”

The hotel closed in 1999 and its remains should have been redeveloped as part of a masterplan, which saw the creation of an Asda supermarket, a new bus station, the relocation of the Lombard Medical Centre and new retail units created on what was the council’s Potterdyke carpark.

Strawsons had permission to demolish the three Grade II listed townhouses that form the remainder of the hotel and to build the Travelodge in its place.

The Government called in the decisions and the matter was due to go to a public inquiry for determination.

Strawsons withdrew the applications and later submitted a new application, which was approved in July.

Under the plans, Travelodge would have bedrooms on the first and second floors with an entrance foyer at ground level among new commercial units.

It would create up to 71 full-time equivalent jobs.

The council statement said: “The council shares the frustration of the public and local businesses about the length of time it is taking to bring the Robin Hood site back into use.

“It is therefore working with the developers to bring forward the proposed new Travelodge and retail development as fast as possible.”

It is not known if the scheme could go ahead if the council does not contribute.

The agent of Strawsons, Banks Long & Co, did not respond to the Advertiser’s request for a comment.