Boost for fire-damaged Whitland property
Work is underway to renovate a Whitland property destroyed by fire in 2009.
The building in St John’s Street, known as Grosvenor House, was sold at auction by Carmarthenshire County Council after renovation of the building was deemed too costly.
The sale went through on February 15 and the new owners have wasted no time in starting work on the site, although they are yet to reveal what they intend to use the building for.
Before the fire, it had been used as living accommodation, with a mix of bedsits and flats, often used to provide housing for people faced with homelessness.
Previously, the council’s housing scrutiny committee heard that the cost of restoring the building could hit £1.7 million.
Cllr Hugh Evans, Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “I am pleased that the sale of Grosvenor House has now gone through, and that the council has been able to recoup some costs from the transfer of this asset.
“Unfortunately the cost of renovating it was beyond the reach of the council. We would hope that the new owners will bring the building back in to use as accommodation to address local housing need, however that will be a decision for them to take.”
Local member, Cllr Sue Allen, added: “The new owners are heroes to tackle such a project as the site looks very challenging. I’m sure everyone in Whitland wishes them all the very best with the project, and are pleased to see some action after all these years. I’ll do everything I can to help the new owners move the project forward.”
The building in St John’s Street, known as Grosvenor House, was sold at auction by Carmarthenshire County Council after renovation of the building was deemed too costly.
The sale went through on February 15 and the new owners have wasted no time in starting work on the site, although they are yet to reveal what they intend to use the building for.
Before the fire, it had been used as living accommodation, with a mix of bedsits and flats, often used to provide housing for people faced with homelessness.
Previously, the council’s housing scrutiny committee heard that the cost of restoring the building could hit £1.7 million.
Cllr Hugh Evans, Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “I am pleased that the sale of Grosvenor House has now gone through, and that the council has been able to recoup some costs from the transfer of this asset.
“Unfortunately the cost of renovating it was beyond the reach of the council. We would hope that the new owners will bring the building back in to use as accommodation to address local housing need, however that will be a decision for them to take.”
Local member, Cllr Sue Allen, added: “The new owners are heroes to tackle such a project as the site looks very challenging. I’m sure everyone in Whitland wishes them all the very best with the project, and are pleased to see some action after all these years. I’ll do everything I can to help the new owners move the project forward.”
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