Cornish spa hotel transformation project begins

Work has begun on the multi-million pound transformation of Old County Hall in the Cornish town of Truro, UK, into a four-star hotel and spa.

The outside of the grade II-listed building has been power-washed this week, to remove carbon staining that had built up over the the years from the railway opposite the property.

The redevelopment of the site is expected to cost between £8m (US$12m, €11m) and £10m (US$15, €14m). Major construction will begin in November and will open in April 2017.

Entrepreneur Nigel Carpenter owns the property, in addition to the nearby St Michael’s Hotel & Spa in Falmouth. Carpenter bought the Truro property from Cornwall Council in 2012 for an undisclosed fee.

The spa at the 47-bedroom hotel, will house a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, three thermal suites, six treatment rooms, a beauty room, relaxation lounges, a fitness suite and exercise studio.

Within the main historic building there will be a 120-seat brasserie and conference and meeting facilities, including a suite for weddings and events.

Close to the old building will be a new development housing 23 luxury apartments. The development scheme also includes 12 residential apartments as well as the conversion of a coach house.

“My philosophy is to focus on bringing out a very individual style based on the hotel’s location, history and sense of place,” Carpenter told westbriton.co.uk. “With Old County Hall, it will be exciting to make the most of all the original features of the building, as well as to add a new sense of style.”