Sale of 'eyesore' building wins council approval

Peterborough City Council has approved the sale of a former office and retail building that has been labelled an "eyesore".

The council's shareholder cabinet committee met on Tuesday to agree plans for Bretton Court, which is set to be sold to a developer.

It comes as the property's owner, Medesham Homes – which the council has a stake in – is in the process of being broken up and restructured.

Emma Riding, the council's service director of financial services, presented a report to the committee describing Bretton Court as "not a pretty sight" which "attracts anti-social behaviour".

The four-storey building, which is at the back of the Bretton Centre, includes ground-floor retail units, upper-floor offices, a car park and a former pub.

Riding said the process of disposing of the site was "quite complex".

Under the plans, the council will surrender its two leases in the building, allowing Medesham Homes to proceed with the sale to a developer.

The report states: "The Medesham board has taken the decision to sell the property and has received an offer from a local developer which, subject to approval, it would like to proceed with."

During the meeting, Conservative councillor Steve Allen sought clarity on the proposed redevelopment of the site.

"At the minute, there is planning permission for 45 apartments, and the prospective buyer is proposing to at least take that up another level," Riding said.

She confirmed the developer did not plan to demolish the building and that the nearby health centre was not part of the Bretton Court site.

In the past, people have said they felt unsafe due to anti-social behaviour at the site, which has been boarded up for several years.

The sale of Bretton Court marks the first step in winding down Medesham Homes.

Following the sale, Cross Keys Homes will buy the council's remaining interest in Medesham, allowing the local authority to withdraw fully from the group.

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