Plans approved for sale of eyesore city building that ‘attracts antisocial behaviour’

A member of the council described the building as “not a pretty site”

Peterborough City Council has agreed to enter into a series of property transactions that will enable Bretton Court to be sold and redeveloped.

Members of the council’s Shareholders Committee met on Tuesday, June 30 to rubber-stamp plans which will see the former office and retail building in Bretton sold to a developer. The sale has come about because the property’s owner Medesham – of which the council is a designated member – is in the process of being dismantled.

Emma Riding, the council’s Service Director of Financial Services, presented a report to the committee which described Bretton Court as “not a pretty sight” which “attracts antisocial behaviour.” Ms Riding also explained that the process for disposing of Bretton Court was “quite complex.”

In essence, the process will see the council surrender its two leases in the property in order to allow Medesham Homes to sell the property to a local developer.

The report stated: “The Medesham board has taken the decision to sell the property and has received an offer from a local developer which, subject to approval, Medesham board would like to proceed with the sale of the property.”

Along with five ground-floor retail units, Bretton Court features upper-floor offices, a rear car park and a former pub. During discussion, Cllr Steve Allen (Cons) said: “I need to determine; when you say ‘redevelop the site,’ does that mean refurbishment or demolition?”

Ms Riding responded: “At the minute, there is planning permission for 45 apartments [and] the prospective buyer is proposing to at least take that up another level.”

“…So keep the structure and build on it?” Cllr Allen suggested.

“At the minute,” Ms Riding agreed, adding “but they [developers] are committed to wider development of what they can do around it.”

Following a query from the Committee’s chair, Cllr Mohammed Jamil, Ms Riding and her colleague Chris Pike (Principal Development Surveyor) confirmed that the nearby health centre is not deemed to be part of the Bretton Court site.

The sale of Bretton Court will be the first step in dismantling Medesham Homes. The report states that, following the disposal of Bretton Court, Cross Keys Homes will acquire the council’s remaining interest in Medesham, thereby enabling the council to cease being a member of the Medesham group.