The cost of demolishing the Royal Albion has soared to more than £1.5 million.
Brighton and Hove City Council has so far footed the bill for dismantling the fire-ravaged hotel, owned by Britannia Hotels, since a blaze ripped through it last July.
The council has now submitted the first of three claims with the hotel group’s insurers, with two more expected in the coming weeks.
And it says it is now “working constructively” with Britannia and its insurers – while noting that it still retains legal powers to recoup the costs if necessary.
A council spokesman said: “Since the Royal Albion Hotel fire happened we have been working towards recouping the cost of the work that has been paid for by the public purse.
“We are working constructively with Britannia Hotels and their insurers in this regard.
“Our consultants started preparing our initial claim in November.
“This was submitted at the start of December, once responsibility for the site had been handed back to Britannia Hotels.
“Our initial claim is currently being checked by their loss adjusters prior to payment being agreed.
“Two further claims will be submitted over the coming weeks as final costs and officer time spent on the project are clarified.
“No money has been paid by Britannia Hotels or their insurers to date.
“Discussions are ongoing, and we have no further comment to make at this stage.
“The original broad order of cost was quoted immediately after the fire.
“Over the following four months, the costs increased due to the labour intensive method of demolition required to ensure the demolition did not impact neighbouring buildings when the building was in a far more fragile state than originally realised.
“We also had to conserve as much of the listed building as possible. Other ancillary costs relating to disruption of the highway, associated assets and street furniture have also been quantified.
“Councils have a duty to ensure the safety of the public in incidents such as this, under the Building Act 1984.
“The structure of the hotel following the fire posed a genuinely life threatening risk.
“The Act also enables the council to recover our costs in removing the danger from the property owner.”
I assume the company and their insurance policy policy can cover these costs?
Let’s hope they do better recouping then with the i360
https://www.cityam.com/britannia-hotels-sues-aviva-for-6-25m-over-aberdeen-fire-losses/
1.5 million outrageous exaggerated cost the council clueless to pay that demolition company laughing at them hahaha
I totally agree with you there lad,show us the paper work for the bill’s Brighton and Hove Council, them books have been well cooked ffs man.
This would make a great site for a tower block of council housing for locals in need of cheap housing
Thing is, actually would. Close to town centre, access to all the major bus routes, train station nearby, several GPs in catchment area, right next to the sea.
Here we see the insanity of conservation laws. Yes let’s not make the post war mistakes of demolishing some lovely old buildings to quickly build some fairy low quality, ugly tower block for sure. BUT trying to preserve the fragments of a burnt down hotel that wasn’t really that great at astronomical cost, seems utter madness. Let’s hope they get that money back.
And all because the fire service screwed up.
All because someone smoked in the building.
Is there any wonder Brighton is going to rack and ruin, when the council are paying out money willy nilly. This hotel was an eyesore anyway, totally run down. The hotel should be sold off to someone who knows how to run a decent hotel.
‘West End of Royal Albion’ to be precise. The rest of the hotel is very much still standing and in need of urgent repairs enforcement notices and possible compulsory purchase to safeguard it for future generations as a grade 2 star listed building. Come on Council. It’s mostly smoke and water damage. Not that difficult to refurbish and reinstate the dividing wall between the main hotel and the former Lions Mansions west end.
‘Come on Counil’
What do you mean by that?
They don’t own the building so why would they refurbish it? That’s down to Britannia.
Why on earth would the council do that?
as someone who visits and have stayed at the royal Albion although interesting I believe the time has come to take it down this is great opportunity for a statement building in the most prominent position I know people would say no all I would say is all things must end I I believe that time has come for the royal Albion what would you put there I hear you say I would build statement building also using building across the road that disused add this to the casino on the end and up the ashes would come the royal Albion hotel and casino still that’s only my view. Martin