Demolition planned for long-vacant Adelphi Hotel
The long-vacant Adelphi Hotel in Burnley town centre is set to be demolished after a court order over the condition of the building.
Burnley Council said it will now move forward with tearing down the property on Railway Street following earlier legal proceedings.
Burnley Magistrates’ Court previously ordered that work must be carried out to make the building safe, or that the dangerous parts must be demolished and cleared away. The order also allows the council to carry out the work and recover the costs if the owner does not act.
Following the court order and continuing concerns about the building’s condition, the council said it is progressing with demolition to remove the unsafe structure.
The Adelphi Hotel has stood empty for a number of years in a prominent location close to Burnley’s railway station.
The council said the action forms part of wider efforts to deal with long-term vacant buildings and improve safety and confidence in the town centre.
The move also links to the council’s Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030, which includes commitments to safe neighbourhoods, a stronger town centre and taking action where buildings pose risks to the public.
Coun. Afrasiab Anwar MBE, Leader of Burnley Council, said: “People in Burnley will know the Adelphi Hotel has been an eyesore for many, many years. It is in a prominent part of the town centre and it is one of the first things visitors see when they arrive in Burnley by rail, so we cannot accept a building in such a key location being left in this state.
“We have seen real progress in Burnley in recent years, with major investment and important town centre projects moving forward, and this action is part of that wider approach. It is about public safety, but it is also about making sure key sites are not left behind as Burnley continues to move forward.”
Coun. Jack Launer, Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture, said: “The regeneration of Burnley Central station is long overdue. This isn’t the way we want to welcome our students to Burnley College or the picture we want to paint of our town. Hopefully it will help decisions to be made to extend the line to Skipton and help relieve parking issues in Brunshaw on match days.
“Encouraging people to use public transport is difficult enough despite our traffic issues. The knocking down of an old pub is sad but in this case for the greater good.”