Work to turn the former Baird's department store in Hamilton into pub won't begin until 2022.
South Lanarkshire Council's executive committee heard on Wednesday, March 10, that JD Wetherspoon have pushed the refurbishment back due to coronavirus.
Executive director for community and enterprise Michael McGlynn said that "depending on restrictions being eased", the pub giant would "turn their attention to the Baird's building in 2022".
In February 2019, the same committee agreed to sell Baird's to JD Wetherspoon for £750,000 but only £136,875 was due to SLC because of an agreement with leasing company Maration Ltd.
During a debate on the sale of the former Vogue Cinema to Clyde Valley Housing Association, Councillor Alan Falconer (Hamilton West and Earnock) questioned why JD Wetherspoon were no further forward with the development.
He said: "I felt I was in a same meeting déjà vu from 18 months ago when we got told the Hamilton strategy plan about a derelict building at the top of Quarry Street.
"We were going to get this all done up and we sold it for £100,000, though the lease holder got £600,000 from Wetherspoons.
"We are still waiting on the Baird's building 18 months down the line."
JD Wetherspoon were the only business to show an interest in the premises after the department store closed in 2014.
Plans for a £4m development could create up to 60 jobs – 30 in the construction phase along with 30 permanent positions once complete.
Mr McGlynn explained that the delay, as far as the council understood it, was due to coronavirus.
He said: "We are aware of your previous issues and discussions over the Baird's building. It was sold and that was the committee decision.
"To be fair, I don't think anybody had envisaged 12 or 13 months ago that we would be going through Covid.
"Most capital projects, similar to the council, people have delayed them.
"However, officers have contacted Wetherspoons. When you own a building you have to get a return for it.
"My understanding from speaking to officers is that Wetherspoons, depending on restrictions being eased, will look to open up their existing public houses throughout the year and then they will turn their attention to the Baird's building in 2022."
However, Cllr Falconer wasn't satisfied and added: "Actually 200 yards from Baird's building, the Premier Inn continued to build through the Covid.
"The other fact is Wetherspoons are in the social recreation drinks game.
"I would've thought, because their pubs are shut, when the Covid's over and the pubs have reopened, they'd be think to themselves we'll have a brand new spanking pub in Hamilton so we should be working on it just now."
In June 2019, Hamilton Licensing Board granted a licence application from the pub giant for Baird's.
South Lanarkshire Council have a “pre-emption right” to buy back the property should JD Wetherspoon decide to sell during the development phase.
