Council to consider issuing notice for repairs for Wellingborough hotel

The Hind Hotel will be discussed by members of Wellingborough Council’s development committee at a meeting tonight (Monday).

Documents prepared for the meeting say the Grade II* Listed building in Sheep Street has been deteriorating over the past 15 years and a condition report has highlighted the ‘extent and severity’ of the defects.

It says the ‘state of repair’ of the hotel has been of concern to the council for several years, and complaints have been regularly received from members of the public and Wellingborough Civic Society about its deterioration.

The documents say: “As a Grade II* Listed building, the council has an obligation to intervene if a building is not being adequately maintained and repaired.

“In order to safeguard the future of this property, officers suggest that enforcement action is taken.

“This would be a listed building repairs notice.

“Before serving such a notice it is recommended by Historic England that a valuation and cost repair report are undertaken.”

Councillors will be asked to approve that an open market valuation of the hotel is carried out and a surveyor’s estimate of the cost of necessary repairs is commissioned in accordance with Historic England procedural guidance.

They will also be asked to agree to a Listed building repairs notice being served on the property owners and all interested parties once the cost of repairs is received.

As part of their discussions, councillors will consider the condition report commissioned by the council.

It says urgent works requiring immediate attention include the roof, rotting carpentry to windows and porch, masonry repair/re-pointing, and rainwater goods overhaul.

The interior of the building is also covered in the condition report and identifies problems with the plasterwork and wall panelling, as well as partial floor subsidence in the basement.

Councillors will discuss the matter at its meeting starting at 7pm tonight at the council offices at Swanspool House in Wellingborough.

If councillors agree to a Listed building repairs notice being issued and then it is not complied with, a further report will be presented to a future committee outlining the available options and their resource implications.

To read the report in full, click here