Sandringham hotel redevelopment scrapped as charity gives up building where Princess Diana was born

Multi-million pound plans for the major redevelopment of a West Norfolk hotel, which specialised in catering for disabled holidaymakers and their carers, have been scrapped.

The charity, Leonard Cheshire, has blamed increased costs and limited fundraising opportunities linked to the coronavirus for its decision to give up the Park House site at Sandringham.

The announcement comes just weeks after a charitable group, which raised tens of thousands of pounds towards the hotel's work, disbanded.

Leonard Cheshire, previously known as Leonard Cheshire Disability had run Park House, the birthplace of Princess Diana, as a hotel for more than 30 years before it announced plans for more guest bedrooms and improved facilities there in September last year.

But the work was subsequently put on hold until next spring because of the Covid-19 crisis.

And, in a statement yesterday evening, the charity said: "It is with regret that due to the unforeseen challenges caused by the current pandemic we have taken the difficult decision to exit the lease and cease the redevelopment of Park House.

"Faced with unforeseen costs as a result of Covid-19 and the difficult fundraising environment all charities are now experiencing we can no longer justify the large long-term investment required for the project.

“We understand the loyalty and affection our regular guests have for the hotel and we will be contacting them individually.

“Our current focus remains the provision of our care and support services, the people who live with us and those who benefit from our programmes across the world. During these unprecedented times, this is more important than ever.

“We will continue to work closely with the Sandringham Estate on Park House’s immediate future.”

A further statement on the charity's website said that, while the original redevelopment plan was to spend £2.3 million and raise the same amount again in match funding, costs had increased "well beyond" the original estimates since then.

It continued: "The expenditure would be difficult both in terms of affordability and being the right thing to do for our beneficiaries.

"We therefore cannot justify that outlay considering the current barriers that disabled people face across the world."

The news comes barely a month after the Companions of Park House announced their decision to disband. One of the reasons given for the decision was that there was no immediate prospect of the hotel re-opening.

Phil Davies, from the Companions, said today: "We are very sad that this appears to signal the end of Park House as a Leonard Cheshire hotel.

"We are particularly sorry that this fantastic facility will no longer be available for disabled guests and their carers, many of whom were regular visitors as this was the only place available to them for holiday respite."

A Sandringham Estate spokesman said: “We understand the Leonard Cheshire decision and are sad that their long association with Park House is ending under such circumstances.

“We will look for a new occupier and hope to find a use that generates similar benefits to the local community and the wider area.”

Did you work at Park House? Or was the hotel an essential lifeline in helping you get away from it all? Share your memories by emailing newsdesk@lynnnews.co.uk.