by John Prince
A former bank that had been neglected and left in a run-down state for the good part of 15 years has finally sold at auction.
The old HSBC building on the corner of Bank Street and Newbegin in Hornsea went under the hammer a few weeks ago, and a final offer was accepted at the end of July.
Since closing as a bank, the building has had two short-lived tenants including a food charity that last leased it out in 2020.
It had been criticised by residents for being an “eyesore” on Hornsea’s main shopping street, and for being left dilapidated for so long by its former London-based owners.
A spokesperson for Quick and Clarke estate agents in Hornsea said: “We’ve been very keen to sell it because it’s a redundant building, which is the only empty place on the high street.
“We’ve got such a vibrant town centre and we’ve been very keen to get it back into use.
“We’ve now agreed a sale at auction, the hammer has fallen and it has been sold. We’re very pleased to say that it’s a local gentleman who is planning to redevelop it.
“It will be subject to a planning application in the near future. It previously had planning consent for a restaurant and bar, but that has lapsed.
“It’s been hard to sell, but we’re very excited to see what he’s going to do with it.”
The building has been on the market since December 2024. At the auction, bids started around £160,000 but the final sale price has not been disclosed.