The crumbling hotel’s future has been secured as the final deal for its long-awaited restoration has been agreed

Ashby’s historic Royal Hotel is set to return to its former glory after the developer’s final obligations were stamped out. Concerns had grown in the community as work on the Grade II listed building appeared to stall, but councilors say the future of the site is now secure.

Initial planning permission for the proposal by Oakland Hotels Ltd was given the green light last year and will see the former Royal Hotel, in Ashby’s Station Road, taken up and restored to its former glory. 17 townhouses will be built, flanking each side of the former hotel and occupying a small section of the city’s renowned Bath Grounds.

Work to repair the hotel’s leaking roof took place earlier this year after scaffolding was put in place. However, concerns have grown in recent weeks after no further work appears to be taking place, but will now happen after the final part of the deal with Oakland was approved by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) this week.

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That final section — known as Section 106 agreements — are obligations Oakland must make to ensure the hotel is restored. The developer previously said the Grade II listed building would undergo a “comprehensive” restoration in a bid to turn it into a four-star “boutique” hotel with 63 parking spaces.

To reach this stage, houses must be built and sold. It is their sale that will fund the restoration effort, with previous figures from Oakland suggesting it will set them back around £6.8m to complete.

Since closing in 2018 amid financial problems, the Royal Hotel has fallen into disrepair and has even been listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2021. The NWLDC says its conservation officers regularly visited the site during the process Section 106 to ensure the site is maintained. .

Councilor Richard Blunt, leader of the NWLDC, welcomed the conclusion of the final agreement. He said: “(This) paves the way for continued renovation of the hotel and eventual reopening. It also demonstrates the owner’s commitment to ensuring that the hotel remains an important and prominent part of Ashby’s heritage. I am delighted that the future of the Royal Hotel should now be secure and that local people will be able to enjoy and appreciate this historic building for generations to come.”

Work on the Royal Hotel site continues. A timeline for the completion of the homes and renovation of the hotel is currently unclear.

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