Exactly eight years after a huge fire tore through the Highbridge Hotel, new life is finally being breathed into the site as it’s dismantled, signalling a fresh start.
The unsightly scaffolding and charred brickwork that had been in place since a huge fire in April 2008 has been removed and work is now underway.
Highbridge’s Mayor Michael Clarke told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “It’s great to see the project progressing, changing the site for the better. It’s good for the people of Highbridge to see the changes taking shape, signalling that a bright new future is ahead.”
And Highbridge district councillor Janet Keen told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The hotel is being dismantled brick by brick because it’s the English Heritage requirement that the materials be re-used.”
She added: “I’m looking forward to it being finished because not only will it restore something that was of value and affectionately held, but it will provide an incredibly important service to the community and to needy people in our community.”
With the help of signficant grant funding, the YMCA is breathing new life into the site by redeveloping it, transforming it into a modern premises of 22 affordable flats for young people alongside community sports facilities.
The YMCA has held extensive discussions with key stakeholders, such as Sedgemoor District Council and English Heritage, to progress the project over the last two years while preserving key elements of the Grade-2 listed property.
Pictured: Top, the hotel site this week and, above, how it will look when redeveloped
