Deal signed for £35m Buxton Spa hotel

THE first new spa hotel to be built in the UK within a century is to get underway at Buxton in June.

High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council have signed a deal with the Council with the Buxton Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa Company to develop a 79-bed 5-star hotel at the Grade I-listed Crescent and the adjoining Grade II-listed Natural Baths and pump room.

Development partners for the project were first announced back in 2003 but it has been the subject of several years of delay over funding – most recently triggered by the winding up of the East Midlands Development Authority.

However, a deal has now been agreed with the project receiving £12.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £500,000 from English Heritage, as well as £1m each from the two councils. The Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa Company is putting in £15m towards the development.

The project will include a new visitor interpretation centre, a state-of-the-art thermal, natural mineral water spa and eight specialist shops.

In a joint statement, Trevor Osborne and John Smith, of development partners the Trevor Osborne Property Group and CP Holdings, said: “It has taken years of hard work to reach this memorable day.  We now look forward to the challenges of delivering this fantastic development.

“Working together, we will do our utmost to repay the enthusiasm shown by Buxton folk and the trust they place in us to do it right for Buxton”, they pledged.

High Peak Borough council leader Caitlin Bisknell said: “Tourism is vitally important to the High Peak, and this development will create jobs and attract countless new visitors while protecting Buxton’s precious architectural heritage.”

Derbyshire County Council leader Andrew Lewer said: “This is an important move which will deliver huge benefits for the Buxton and Derbyshire economies. As well as creating jobs and a much-needed boost for local business, it will further enhance Derbyshire’s status as a top tourist location”.

Law firm Brabners Chaffe Street advised on the development agreement.