Victory over battle to buy derelict hotel Jul 29 2005
By Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo
A DERELICT Liverpool hotel with a compulsory purchase order on it is to be bought by the council.
A planning inspector today ruled in favour of the council against Shook Kwan "Jimmy" Wong, the owner of the Scandinavia hotel at the corner of Nelson Street and Duke Street.
The news comes seven weeks aftera public inquiry in Liverpool, and after the Bishop of Liverpool wrote to deputy prime minister John Prescott urging a speedy decision.
It could mean the city could be in possession of the building by October.
Mr Wong appealed aftera compulsory purchase order (CPO) was served on him last year by the council, which claimed regeneration of Ropewalks was hampered by his inability to repair the building, which is on the ECHO's Stop the Rot hit list.
This is the first completely successful CPO through the ECHO's Stop the Rot campaign.
The council has signed an agreement with developers Downing for a £14m hotel, offices and residential scheme on the site at the corner of Nelson Street and Duke Street.
Council leader Mike Storey said today: "This is a powerful message to those people who let our architectural heritage go to rack and ruin.
"We as a city will take relentless action. This shows we mean business. I hope the redevelopment would be completed for 2008."
Mr Wong said today he had not been officially informed about the decision.
At the inquiry he claimed European funding "half-promised" in the mid-1990s had been diverted to other schemes, including the Tea Factory in nearby Wood Street.
He has planning permission-for a restaurant, witha snooker hall, oriental museum and a roof garden.
Plans would 'enhance character' of the area
INSPECTOR Laura Graham listened to three days of evidence at the public inquiry last month and visited the Scandinavia hotel site. She ruled in the council's favour, saying its proposals would:
. Enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.
. Provide improvements to the public realm through the provision of a new pedestrian route along the original route of Cummings Street.
. Offer a vibrant mix of uses, including a building for use by the local community.
. Accord with the provisions of the development plan.
The inspector said while Mr Wong's plans would bring existing buildings back into use and strengthen the Chinese identity of the area, there were "considerable doubts" over whether he had the necessary funding or could deliver his plans.
The recommendations conclude: "I am satisfied there is a compelling case in the public interest for the compulsory acquisition of all interests in the order land."
Sailors' home
THE Scandinavia hotel was built in the mid-19th century on the corner of Nelson Street and Duke Street. It was a home for sailors from Scandinavia, later became a furniture factory and snooker hall, but has been empty for 25 years.
In 2001, Downing submitted plans to demolish the building and an adjacent factory and replace it with a six-floor hotel, restaurants, bars, offices, apartments and basement car park.
The subsequent revised plans include maintaining the original facade on Nelson Street.