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Buxton Crescent spa project to finish 12 years late | Buxton Crescent spa project to finish 12 years late |
(2 days later) | |
Everything which could have gone wrong with the renovation of a landmark building has, the developer has said. | Everything which could have gone wrong with the renovation of a landmark building has, the developer has said. |
Work began on the Crescent in Buxton, Derbyshire, in 2003, with an initial completion date of 2007 now pushed back to 2019. | Work began on the Crescent in Buxton, Derbyshire, in 2003, with an initial completion date of 2007 now pushed back to 2019. |
The budget to restore the Grade I 18th Century spa complex has also more than doubled to more than £50m. | The budget to restore the Grade I 18th Century spa complex has also more than doubled to more than £50m. |
The current Duke of Devonshire said once finished, the building will be the "jewel in the crown" of Buxton. | |
Developer Trevor Osborne said the project had faced rotten timbers and multiple protected springs. | |
The Crescent had stood empty since 1992 when Mr Osborne took it on, intending to convert it into a five-star hotel. | |
He said there had been huge problems - a lot of the building had rotted so it was being reinforced with steel and new timbers. | He said there had been huge problems - a lot of the building had rotted so it was being reinforced with steel and new timbers. |
"I think when I agreed to take this project on I must have been young and foolish," he said. | |
"It was difficult to come up with designs which would safeguard the water. | "It was difficult to come up with designs which would safeguard the water. |
"When I took the project on I was advised there were three springs - we found at least 23. | |
"We have had just about every difficulty you could have with a building project like this." | "We have had just about every difficulty you could have with a building project like this." |
Buxton Crescent | Buxton Crescent |
Source: Derbyshire County Council | Source: Derbyshire County Council |
The huge budget leap has been borne by the lottery, development grants and Mr Osborne's own company. | The huge budget leap has been borne by the lottery, development grants and Mr Osborne's own company. |
"That hurts a bit, but long ago I ceased to think of this as a commercial venture," he said. | "That hurts a bit, but long ago I ceased to think of this as a commercial venture," he said. |
The current Duke of Devonshire, whose ancestor built the Crescent, said: "He and his wife had spent a lot of time in Bath and I think he tried to emulate that. | The current Duke of Devonshire, whose ancestor built the Crescent, said: "He and his wife had spent a lot of time in Bath and I think he tried to emulate that. |
"I'm afraid when it was built by my ancestor, it was not built to a very high standard, so (the developers) have had to put that right. | |
"I think it will be the jewel in the crown, and that's some crown, Buxton's a really wonderful place. I think it'll put Buxton and Derbyshire even more on the map." | |
An event was held in the Crescent's Pump Room on 20 June to mark the joint launch of both the Buxton Crescent & Thermal Spa Heritage Trust and the Friends of the Crescent group to support the regeneration and the future of the building. |
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