Council steps forward in plans to take back control of Staines waterfront site
A Surrey council has claimed it is taking back control of a prime riverside site in Staines that has been sitting in limbo for years.
Plans for a riverside four-star hotel in Staines fell through after Spelthorne Borough Council and Arora Group mutually agreed the project was no longer workable.
The council’s development agreement with Arora Waterfront Ltd and Arora Hotels Ltd has been brought to an early end, giving the authority full control of the land at Bridge Street so it can finally decide what to do with it.
Spelthorne council had been working with Arora Group to agree plans to regenerate the land under Bridge Street car park in Staines, which would include developing the hotel, but signalled the end of the agreement in July.
The site includes Hanover House, which the council bought in 2018 for £5.765 million, as well as the Bridge Street car park and the old Sea Cadet building.
It is seen as a gateway to Staines town centre but has been hit by flooding issues, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Council Leader Joanne Sexton told a Corporate and Resources Committee on October 13 that councillors had a choice: “To let this run its course or to take control whilst we still have our sovereignty.”
She said: “Following an approach by Arora Hotels, it was mutually agreed to end the development arrangement early.
“This enables the council to assume control of the site significantly earlier than the original contract allowed.”
By cutting the deal short, the council hopes to get moving on new plans for the land.
The decision needs one final approval at full council later this year.
Work will now start on a new ‘disposal strategy’ on how the council can use or sell the site.
This will be developed alongside the council’s social value work to make sure any redevelopment benefits local people and does not increase flood risk.
Although some councillors criticised the plans as a ‘fire sale’ of property, officers said Spelthorne is reviewing its assets rather than trying to flog all its properties at once.
Reports state the decision is part of Spelthorne’s wider Improvement and Recovery Plan, which focuses on reducing its debts and managing its property portfolio more carefully.