Work begins on the main Crescent building in Buxton

Thanks to a £23.8million National Lottery grant and money from various other sources, the Grade I listed building, which has been empty since 1992, is being returned to use as a five-star thermal spa hotel, shops and visitor centre.
The project is being led by High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council.
Buxton Crescent was built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire between 1780 and 1789 as the centrepiece of the Northern spa town. It featured an assembly room, two hotels - including some of the first purpose-built hotels in the country - and six lodging houses. It was the county council's offices and the town's library from 1970 until it closed.
[quote=Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands]“It’s great to see this visionary project come to fruition.”[/quote]
This latest development follows the start of works to restore the Pump Room on the site so that it can house an interactive visitor centre, heritage experience and tea room that will be open to the public free of charge.
The project staff are organising a programme of events, tours and projects with local schools and organisations to explore the rich heritage of the building. A Friends of the Crescent scheme will be launched in early summer and the popular Pump Room roof concerts featuring an array of local bands and musicians will take place again on 23 and 25 July.
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “It’s great to see this visionary project come to fruition. There have been some unique and challenging risks that have meant that this point has been a long time coming, but reaching this significant milestone is a credit to the hard work of the project team and partners.
“Special thanks must go to National Lottery players for making our investment possible.”