The unfinished £30million eyesore in 'Cheshire-on-Sea': Work to build 'Benidorm-style' hotel complex in tiny Welsh village stalls AGAIN 'after row between developers'

Construction of a £30million hotel complex in an exclusive seaside village dubbed 'Cheshire-on-Sea' has stalled again, leaving an unfinished eyesore amid an alleged row between developers.

The site was once home to the White House Hotel, which overlooked Abersoch beach in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, where generations of families went on holiday.

But the hotel closed its doors in 2004 before being demolished in 2016 with developers soon unveiling plans to open a new hotel called Ty Gwyn Abersoch.

The ambitious project promised 42 rooms along with 18 apartments, spa facilities and a 'destination restaurant' celebrating local cuisine.

It took another eight years for building work to eventually start in 2024 following a series of delays – but then activity ground to a halt in spring last year.

Speaking at the time, Charles Openshaw, development director at Providence Gate, the developer behind the project, said there had been a complication with an electrical substation and design issues.

But locals have seen no meaningful activity for several months – and the Daily Mail can now reveal how a dispute between developers has put its future in doubt.

A winding-up petition was brought against Providence Gate Group Holdings, which resulted in the resignation of Mr Openshaw and fellow director Anthony Hayton.

Ty Gwyn Abersoch is being constructed on the former site of the White House Hotel

The hotel overlooks the beach in Abersoch, which has been dubbed 'Cheshire-on-Sea'

The site looms over the main road in and out of Abersoch in Wales

The construction site for Ty Gwyn Abersoch, which is planned to have 42 hotel rooms and 18 apartments

Developers want the complex to have a 'destination restaurant' celebrating local cuisine

The two men are no longer involved in the hotel project and declined to make any comment when approached by the Daily Mail.

Wealthy Lancashire business leader Anil Kumar Pitalia now appears to be in control of the project, which is clouded in uncertainty. Mr Pitalia was approached for comment.

Gwynedd councillor John Brynmor Hughes told the Daily Mail: 'It's gone very quiet there and I am not sure what is happening. What I do know is that Abersoch needs this hotel.

'It will help support the village throughout the year, providing locals with employment and training. So yes, I want to see it completed.'

One resident called Mary, who lives near the village, also said: 'I don't know what is going on with it. But it should have been delivered a few years ago. It seems to have been going on forever.'

Critics have previously compared the building to 'Benidorm' and labelled it as 'a carbuncle on the landscape' – while one said it looked more like 'Vale do Lobo than Abersoch', referring to the Portuguese resort. 

The site looms over the main road in and out of Abersoch, which is often clogged with SUVs and sports cars during the high season.

The heart of the village is often gridlocked with Range Rovers – to the consternation of locals.

An artist's impression of Ty Gwyn Abersoch before work started on the project in 2024

Generations of families went on holiday to the White House Hotel, pictured in the 1960s

Among the local meeting spots is Two Islands, a gourmet coffee shop for iced lattes and home-baked goodies. 

Most tourists stay in rental cottages and a handful of traditional bed and breakfasts.

The village also pulls in famous faces from Bradley Cooper to Molly-Mae Hague, Coleen Rooney and Kyle Walker.

Bear Grylls owns an island just off the coast and is often spotted picking up groceries in Abersoch.

Drone footage of the hotel site was posted on Facebook two years ago which prompted locals and tourists to debate its relative merits.

Peter Knowles said: 'What an eyesore, looks more like a football stadium. Abersoch is being destroyed by overdevelopment.'

Lynne Hawkins said: 'Totally out of place in Abersoch. Why are these projects permitted? I don't think it would happen in Cornwall.'

A spokesman for the project, backed by Mr Pitalia, said: 'The hotel site in Abersoch is an important asset for North Wales, and we take our responsibility to the village seriously.

'While there may be little visible activity on site, a great deal of work is continuing behind the scenes, in close collaboration with local stakeholders, including council and government bodies. We look forward to sharing more in due course.'