PALMERS Brewery said it is making ‘good progress’ on the development of the Three Cups – as this week marks the 21st anniversary of its closure.

West Dorset District Council and English Heritage requested extra reports on the Broad Street building in November last year.

Palmers’ architects and historic buildings advisors are working on additional reports on the historic fabric of the building, the context of the site in relation to adjoining buildings, and the structural integrity of the building itself.

English Heritage and West Dorset planners requested further work before any more detailed designs are produced for the proposed redevelopment scheme.

Palmers’ property agent Nigel Jones, of Chesterton Humberts, said: “As soon as this has been completed, we will prepare a computerised model of the proposals taking into account all the adjoining buildings.”

Campaigners who want to see the Three Cups re-opened as a hotel say Palmers is already six months behind schedule.

John Dover, chairman of the Save the Three Cups as a Heritage Hotel Group Steering Group, said: “I welcome Palmers’ recent statement that they are making ‘good progress’ on the extra reports requested by West Dorset District Council and English Heritage.

“Some months ago I confirmed that our group was prepared to accept some delay if this meant that a thorough appraisal of Palmers’ proposals would be undertaken.

“Considering that Palmers’ own timetable has already slipped by six months and this week is the 21st anniversary of the closure of the Three Cups Hotel ‘good progress’ is not a term we would use.”

The group is today meeting with the leader and director of planning at West Dorset District Council to receive feedback on the status of the pre-planning application process and the commissioned reports.

Mr Dover said: “We look forward to this opportunity to reinforce our view that we need new, specific, measurable and realistic target dates from Palmers against which they can be made accountable.”

The campaigners said the ‘dilapidated’ state of the Grade II-listed building continues to be a concern.

“I have also written, yet again, to Palmers concerning the dilapidated and neglected state of the exterior of the building which continues to be an eyesore on our main shopping street at the beginning of a new holiday season,” said Mr Dover.

“No further clean-up or repair has taken place since I last wrote to Palmers over six months ago and we now have a dead seagull and pigeon to contend with.”

The Bridport-based brewery first revealed its plans for the Broad Street building at a public consultation day in September. An upmarket restaurant, flats and houses, commercial space, and residential units are all among the possible uses for the site.

Mr Jones said: “We plan to undertake further public consultation on the proposed scheme later this year.”