Contractors sought for Crescent scheme

Contractors are now being invited to bid for the main part of work to transform Buxton’s magnificent Crescent into a spa hotel.
The Crescent BuxtonThe Crescent Buxton
The Crescent Buxton

The main construction contract is estimated to be worth around £22.5 million and the winning contractors will be chosen after a two-stage procurement process.

The long-awaited £35 million transformation of the Grade I Listed building and adjoining Grade II Listed Natural Baths and Pump Room will see the creation of a 79-bedroom, five-star hotel incorporating the neighbouring Natural Baths; a new visitor interpretation centre; a state-of-the-art thermal, natural mineral water spa and seven specialist shops.

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Developer Trevor Osborne Property Group has been working in partnership with High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund on the ambitious project, and the hotel is expected to open in 2016.

Cllr Caitlin Bisknell, leader of High Peak Borough Council, said: “This is clearly a big step in the right direction. The next tender stage is a big contract so that the building work can begin in earnest.

“I know there has been a lot of behind the scenes work going on and the Osborne Group have now got some mock-ups of the interior design and what the hotel will look like, and it is quite stunning.”

She added: “I mentioned to Trevor (Osborne) that now the tender has gone out we should have a public meeting in Buxton to let people know what’s happening, where we’re up to and what’s about to happen this summer.

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“Now the next stage is upon us, I think it really is the right time.

“It won’t be immediately, it will probably be in July as we want to give people enough notice.”

Funding for the project has come from a number of sources, with Derbyshire County Council announcing earlier this year that if necessary, it would step in with a multi-million pound loan to fill a funding gap left by the demise of the East Midlands Development Agency to ensure the scheme can go ahead.