The Upper Reaches Hotel, off Thames Street beside Abingdon Bridge, has remained boarded up since it closed in 2015. Residents say the vacant property has become a hotspot for vandalism and antisocial behaviour, despite maintenance work carried out to improve its appearance.
Last summer, councillors called for progress on redevelopment plans for the riverside site, but a year later little has changed. The freehold is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council, while Contemporary Hotels Ltd has held the lease since 2004.
Stalled redevelopment plans
In 2023, hotel owner Ambar Paul announced plans to redevelop the site, saying he was prepared to invest £6 million if granted the freehold. One proposal included building a new 50-room hotel.
Oliver Forder, chairman of Vale of White Horse District Council and a town councillor, said repeated attempts had been made to contact Mr Paul over the past year. "We are not getting a response from him - it is extraordinarily frustrating," he said. "He is the person who has the lease, and there is no break clause in it - he is not negotiating with us. We want to find a solution that is acceptable to the public, the council, the leaseholder. Councillors have been active in pressing officers to seek a solution - it's a constant topic of conversation."
Mr Paul, who is based in London, closed the hotel after it was reportedly losing £100,000 a year. He also spends between £60,000 and £80,000 annually securing the site, with maintenance work carried out in 2024.
Conservation group urges action
Conservation group The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society has repeatedly urged the council and Contemporary Hotels to resolve the issue. A spokeswoman for the group said last year: "The Friends are calling on Contemporary Hotels and the Vale of White Horse District Council to bring this situation to a speedy end. Contemporary Hotels should either bring forward their long-promised redevelopment plans or give up the lease for development by someone else." The group has also said the neglected riverside building makes Abingdon look "unloved".
Committee member Hester Hand said this week: "The Friends of Abingdon and representatives from the Thames Street residents continue to have periodic updates from the district council, but have heard nothing from the leaseholder. It seems that late last year the leaseholder showed some interest in reviving his plans, but all has gone quiet again. The Vale council is maintaining the position that there is nothing they can do so long as he abides by the terms of his lease. Clearly the future of this site is not a high priority either for them or the leaseholder, which is incredibly frustrating for local residents who care much more about it."
Council says hands are tied
A spokesperson for Vale of White Horse District Council said: "Over the past year, the council has continued to engage with the tenant of The Upper Reaches site in its capacity as landlord and has sought updates on plans for the future of the hotel."
The spokesperson added: "We share the community's frustration and desire to see a long-term and positive future secured for the Upper Reaches site. Ultimately, our hands are tied as the property is subject to a 125-year ground lease and responsibility for the operation and redevelopment of the site rests with the tenant. We will continue to engage proactively with the tenant, encourage the submission of redevelopment proposals and ensure that appropriate maintenance and management of the site is carried out in the interim."
