DEVELOPMENT of the derelict Newport Towers Hotel on the A38 near Berkeley has finally been given the go-ahead.

Stroud District Council signed off the final conditions last week after joint working between Berkeley councillors, Stroud District and Gloucestershire County Council officers with the development firm Tenens Ede.

The hotel suffered a destructive fire in October, and another in April last year.

It closed down in 2007 and a planning application for 39 homes and a community shop on the site was approved by Stroud District Council in June 2019.

Councillor Haydn Jones said: "The buildings have stood neglected and forlorn since doors closed in 2007 and have proved a magnet for antisocial behaviour."

Planning permission for housing and a store was granted, but progress to resolve conditions associated with the permission has been hampered by a series of technical challenges.

Berkeley Vale District Councillors got involved to help bring parties together and overcome the remaining obstacles.

Councillor Haydn Jones, who leads for the Berkeley Vale team, said: "Reuse of brownfield sites is usually more complex than building on green fields, but should be the first choice.

"As councillors we are sometimes able to make timely connections between council officers and developers to secure progress.

"I would like to thank the developers and officers for getting this over the line and my colleagues, councillors Lindsey Green and Gordon Craig, who have provided unstinting support.

"In particular, I would like to recognise and offer sincere thanks to the local community who have displayed commendable patience whilst these technical and administrative hurdles have been navigated."

Works to transform the site have commenced.