The forced sale of a dilapidated Bristol landmark is still ongoing more than a year after it was announced.
Bristol City Council confirmed in January 2020 that it was working on a compulsory purchase order (CPO) of Grosvenor Hotel, in hope of seizing control from the landowner and pushing ahead with long-awaited redevelopment plans.
The former hotel near Temple Meads is still boarded up as 2021 gets under way, however, fenced off and defaced with graffiti.
When asked on the status of the CPO, the council was unable to offer a timeline as to when it would be complete.
However, a spokesperson told Bristol Live that "final preparations" were being made amid "complex legal issues".
The statement read: “We are continuing with final preparations for a Compulsory Purchase Order for the Grosvenor Hotel site as part of the Temple Quarter regeneration, a process which is taking place as quickly as possible subject to complex legal issues.
“The existing building is set for demolition once the CPO process is complete so the site can be developed.
“It sits alongside the former George and Railway building, which itself will be brought forward to provide new office space for key business sectors including creative, digital, low carbon and high tech businesses."
The 19th-century hotel on Portwall Lane East closed in 1993, having been labelled a fire hazard.
There followed a failed project from Grosvenor Property Developers to turn the hotel into a block of student apartments.
Grosvenor Property Developers did not complete the purchase of the hotel from its current owners Earlcloud Ltd.
Council cabinet members approved a CPO for the property in November 2018, but did not rule out coming to an agreement with the landowner.
However, in January 2020 it confirmed that it was pushing ahead with the CPO route.
Its plans for redevelopment would see the hotel demolished in place of a public plaza and offices.
A second Engine Shed has been proposed for the neighbouring George and Railway site.
Temple Meads is already home to the first Engine Shed, which serves as an event venue, office and co-working space.
Due to the "complexities" of the process, the council was unable to offer a time estimate as to when the CPO might be complete.
