Historic hotel owner seeks permission to demolish fire-damaged building

Summarised from BBC Hereford And Worcester's report · Updated 5 Nov, 14:24 · Archive

The owner of a Grade II-listed hotel damaged by fire in Worcestershire has applied for permission to demolish it.

The Raven Hotel in Droitwich, Worcestershire, a Grade II-listed building dating from the 16th century, was severely damaged in a fire in August 2025. The blaze forced the derelict structure to be fenced off on safety grounds. Its owner, Live Urban Two Limited, has now submitted an application for Listed Building Consent to demolish the remains, citing a structural survey that concluded the building cannot be saved and poses a significant risk to public safety.

Wychavon District Council has ordered an independent inspection to determine whether demolition is the only option, saying it has not yet accepted this conclusion. The council is also seeking the views of Historic England. A decision is expected before Christmas. Council leader Richard Morris expressed anger at the owner's conduct, saying there had been "little, if any, meaningful respect shown" for the historic building. He noted that representatives of Historic England had indicated to him that the historic part of the building was salvageable when he visited the day after the fire.

Read the report

• Fire-hit historic hotel's owner in demolition bidWychavon District Council says an independent review will now determine if demolition is acceptable.BBC Hereford And Worcester · 5 Nov, 14:03

In this story: Raven Hotel · Droitwich · Worcestershire · Live Urban Two Limited · Wychavon District Council · Historic England · Richard Morris

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