FORMER reality TV star Mick Norcross remains “totally committed”

to bringing Leigh’s Grand Hotel back to life, but admits work may not start until 2016.

Mr Norcross, who appeared in the Only Way is Essex, wants to transform the building in Broadway into a stylish boutique spa hotel.

However, Mr Norcross, who is also famed for owning the Sugar Hut nightspot in Brentwood, is still trying to rid the hotel site of invasive weeds that have delayed the project.

Mr Norcross said the site is now a year into a three-year project to get rid of Japanese knotweed, but hopes to begin building work in six to eight months.

He said: “I still remain totally committed and want to deliver on the development. I want to return the hotel to its former glory, for the people of Leigh.

“I appreciate the support from residents and also that it does not look fantastic at the minute. But I am on-site regularly and pay to have rubbish removed once a month.

“Once the banks are satisfied the treatment of the knotweed is working, then they will release funds and we can start work again.

“I don’t want to start now and put three or four million pounds of my own money into the project only to find the knotweed hasn’t died and have wasted my money, so unfortunately it’s a waiting game.”

Mr Norcross took over the lease on the building in 2012 and work began on renovating the iconic building in April last year. Work ceased in the September after the discovery of the weed.

Experts are regularly on site to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and Mr Norcross recently tweeted pictures of a three-monthly weedkilling process.

He plans to rename the historic building the Grand Boutique Hotel and include 20 bedrooms, a piano lounge, bar, restaurant, tea rooms and luxury spa in the revamp. It had initially been thought the hotel would open this winter, but the delays mean a precise date is not now known.

Alistair Hanman, of nearby Leigh Hall Road, a town councillor and chartered surveyor, had sympathy with the problems faced by Mr Norcross.

He said: “I am acutely aware of the effect knotweed can have and it is very difficult to eradicate without removing all the soil. I will be pleased to see the building put back into a good state of repair and, hopefully, the issues will all get sorted as soon as possible so the development can restart.”