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Assetsure News 11th October 2007
Listed Building UK News Update
Plans to convert three Grade 2 listed buildings in Southampton has
received controversial planning permission despite the worries of many
local people. Residents were joined by local MP John Denham in
objecting to plans for the New College site which was owned by
Southampton University who have disposed of a the buildings for an
amount in the region of 20 million pounds. With the focus very much on
conservation at the present moment,
this decision could allow Linden home to demolish a former convent,
swimming pool and student accommodation and construct in their place a
block of 200 flats, 19 town houses and a 69 unit sheltered
accommodation.
To their credit ,the firm are seeking a compromise by retaining the
gate lodge, library and a chapel that dates back to 1904. Southampton
City Council planning department voted unanimously in favour of the
first set of plans which outline development in the southeast corner
of the location. This will include converting three
Grade 2 listed buildings on Rockstone
Place in to ten self contained flats and two three storey houses. In
total, the new college site is 8.3 acres in size and there are plans
to develop it in its entirety to provide many new homes.
Meanwhile historic Sion Mills Stables in Strabane is set to be
purchased for the princely sum of £1.00 when the government manages to
obtain the grant of a compulsory purchase order. This action is being
taken by the government in attempt to save the block from total ruin.
The state of dilapidation is quite severe and work has been ongoing
for many years to acquire the site for a buildings preservation trust
to ensure their safekeeping. As soon as the transfer is completed
emergency restoration work will start, although it is not anticipated
these buildings will ever be used as stables again, it is anticipated
, that the facade can be preserved and the interior put to good use,
possibly and an office block or restaurant or other such establishment
that will serve the local community and help provide a boost to the
local economy..
In Bedfordshire, plans to build over 400 new homes on land behind the
Cardington airship sheds are due to be put to council bosses in the
next few days. The airship shed are listed buildings and are generally
in a poor condition, as a spin off from these plans, the developers
are promising 6 million pounds of refurbishment works to
insure the buildings are saved and
can then be possibly put to light industrial use. For almost 80 years,
these
listed buildings have dominated the
skyline near Bedford. Since 1918 airships were built and maintained at
Cardington Airfield and these sheds have been a home to both the R100
and R101. During the second world war the sheds were used to house
barrage balloons. It is hoped that the developers investment money
will insure these wonderful buildings will be preserved for future
generations to marvel at.
Finally in this update, a new housing scheme in Wales will see a Grade
2 listed hospital be demolished to make way for 200 new homes. The
former hospital in Denbigh has been
unoccupied since 1995 has fallen in
to a state of disrepair, it has frequently been attached by vandals.
It is hoped that the Victorian parts of the building can be saved and
restored with the more recent additions demolished to make way for new
buildings. It is thought that these later additions are out of keeping
with the original structure and best use will be made of it by partial
demolition of the site.
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