A DECISION is imminent on whether government money is forthcoming for the rejuvenation of Liskeard's crumbling Webb's Hotel.
The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWERDA) has been contacted, both by Caradon council, and by the partnership who wished to develop Webb's, following the collapse of the latest scheme for the hotel.
The three partners who had hoped to redevelop the whole building were faced with thinking again about their scheme following a consultants' report. This gave a bleak view of the amount of rent which could be recouped from the top two floors, planned as an office area. One of the partners, Jamie Brown, said it had been hoped £6-8 per square foot could be charged, but the consultants felt £3-4 per sq ft was more likely. A nightclub had been planned by the partners for the ground floor.
The principal regeneration manager for SWERDA, Miles Cardon, said the Agency is currently looking at whether they wish to go ahead with a direct development scheme, and a decision is likely within the next week. National money would be used through the department of environment, transport and the regions, if the go-ahead is given, to buy the hotel, and then develop it – with the prospect of obtaining matching Objective One funding being considered.
The initial stage would be, however, to look at the feasibility study of the hotel which, Mr Cardon said, could be used for a mix of offices, retail and residential.
It may, or may not, be for a nightclub, but he stressed the use would have to be a viable one, and it would be expected that the hotel would then be sold within five years.