Nottinghamshire County Council agrees to sell former council depot off Great North Road

By: Kit Sandeman

A plan to have a new hotel built on vacant land in Newark have taken a step forward, after the county council agreed to sell the 4.9 acre plot.

The former council depot is opposite the livestock market, just off Great North Road, and close to Newark Rugby Club.

Now, the Conservative-lead Nottinghamshire County Council has agreed to dispose of the land.

The price has not been revealed on the grounds of commercial sensitivity.

In 2016, a plan to build a new supermarket on the site was refused permission by the Conservative-run Newark and Sherwood District Council.

A marketing campaign ended last month, during which the county council expressed that it would prefer a hotel to be built.

Planning permission has not yet been granted.

A total of 19 bids were received by the county council, which said the majority of bids were conditional on receiving planning consent although six bids were unconditional.

A report on the issue said: “As part of the marketing exercise, the council expressed an interest for the development of a hotel on site and a number of bidders carried out investigations for hotel use.”

At a meeting of the county council’s Policy Committee on Wednesday, it was agreed unanimously to declare the land surplus to requirements.