Merchant's House set to become tourist digs

COUNCIL ABOUT TO SELL HISTORIC CITY LANDMARK

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

A DEAL is close to completion which will see Plymouth’s historic Merchant's House sold and turned into some form of visitor accommodation.

After a request for information, Plymouth City Council confirmed to The Herald that it had found a “preferred purchaser” for the Grade II* listed, 16th Century building.

The council said the sale price and restoration plans will be made public once the deal is completed. It has not revealed at this stage who the purchaser is, or what exactly the plan for the building is other than to say it will “provide visitors to the city a unique place to stay”.

The authority did, however, stress the proposal would also mean the building would be “restored to its former glory” and be “open for the public to view twice a year”.

Cllr Chris Penberthy, cabinet member responsible for the city’s assets, said: “Merchant's House is a precious historic property that has been lying empty for a long time now and it really needs to be restored and put to good use.

“We are delighted to find a preferred purchaser who plans to restore the house. We look forward to completing the disposal and seeing their plans coming to fruition.”