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Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Telegraph
Manchester mill blaze triggers alarm over spate of historic buildings fires
Conservation chiefs have raised fears over a string of fires gutting historic British buildings after a blaze burned down Manchester's earliest surviving textile mill. The Hotspur Press, also known as the Medlock Mill, has been partly demolished to enable 'safe' internal firefighting after it was hit by a major fire on Monday. The historic site dated back to 1801 and was repurposed as a printing press in 1902. Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said the city's Fire Rescue Service would undertake a 'rigorous and forensic investigation'. He added that police and fire services will 'use all the powers at their disposal to pursue all necessary action' if there is evidence of criminality. Anya Lucas of the Georgian Group said the blaze was part of a worrying trend of historic sites going up in flames. 'We're noticing an escalation in the number of fires, it's ... a real concern. There's no national way of recording fire damage to historic buildings, but it's going on far too often,' she said. The Manchester site has been slated for redevelopment into a 35-storey student accommodation tower by London-based developer Manner, which filed revised plans for the building in May after taking on the project in 2020. Its plans involved installing aluminium cladding above its historic brickwork. At the same time, it was a contested heritage site, with campaigners calling for the building to gain protected status. Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, rejected a bid to make part of it listed in January. The Georgian Group appealed the decision in the following month, and had been waiting for an update before the fire struck earlier this week. The fire has stoked concerns from conservation specialists that historic buildings are being gutted, whether through arson by the owners, third parties or by accident, at significant cost to Britain's heritage and place-making efforts. Prominent examples include the Crooked House pub in Staffordshire, which was unexpectedly demolished days after it burned down in a suspected arson attack. There was also a suspicious fire at a derelict part of West Yorkshire's Dalton Mills in December last year, months after two teenagers were found guilty of starting an inferno that destroyed much of the historic complex in 2022. There are no allegations that the fire at Hotspur Press was caused by wrongdoing and the blaze is under investigation. Ms Lucas said: 'There's a separate point about what can be done in terms of more active protection, monitoring and recording how often this is happening and then potentially linking it to the development context, because more often than not there is one. It's not always arson, but there often is a link to what's going on in terms of live planning applications. She said it was an issue that the Government needs to engage more on, adding it is an issue that her group is 'keen to work on' with fellow preservation societies'. 'When these [buildings] are lost, you're losing the warp and weft of towns and cities up and down the country. That's an insidious process that cumulatively has a real impact on our heritage nationally,' she added. Thomas Ollivier, the Northern conservation adviser at the Victorian Society, said heritage buildings are 'seen as easy targets'. 'There is an onus on the owner of a building - whether it's the developer, council or private owner- to look after them,' he said. A spokesperson for Historic England noted there have been 'several serious mill fires' in the past decade including at Drummond Mill, Bradford in 2016, and Newsome Mill, Huddersfield in 2016. He added: 'Fires like these can have a devastating effect on local communities who cherish their local heritage.' Nicholas Boys Smith of Create Streets, a think tank, said northern textile mills were as 'precious to our story as Blenheim or Chatsworth'. 'Yet we are letting too many of them slip through our fingers, through decay, indolence or conflagration,' he said. Manner was contacted for comment. A spokesperson previously issued a statement to media outlets that called the fire 'truly heartbreaking'. 'We are absolutely devastated to see the extent of the damage that has been caused, and it is incredibly hard to come to terms with what is now left of this important building,' he said.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Historic 300-year-old pub to be DEMOLISHED with beloved venue branded ‘not viable' after 60% drop in income since Covid
A HISTORIC pub that has stood for over 300 years is set to be demolished after struggling to survive in the wake of the Covid pandemic. The Reindeer Inn in Overton, Yorkshire, will be knocked down to make way for four new homes after Wakefield Council planners approved the scheme. The decision comes after the owners reported a staggering 60 per cent drop in income since Covid, making the business no longer viable. According to The Yorkshire Post, the application to redevelop the site was submitted last year as the owners sought alternatives to keep afloat. The pub, which dates back to 1704, was once a bustling coaching inn on the old turnpike between Huddersfield and Wakefield and later became a favourite for miners from the nearby Caphouse Colliery, now part of the National Coal Mining Museum. But despite its long history, the Reindeer Inn is not a listed building. National heritage groups, including the Georgian Group and Historic Buildings & Places, objected to the plans, arguing that the pub is a 'non-designated heritage asset' with 'considerable historic value.' They also warned that losing the building could set a legal precedent, putting other historic sites at risk. The scheme includes building on a section of land leading down to New Road, part of which was once a children's playground but has long been disused. Outbuildings near the pub will also be demolished to make space for the new homes. A planning officer's report said the proposal: 'would not cause substantial harm to the openness of the green belt' and described the site's location as 'relatively sustainable' in relation to the road network. It concluded that the development would be 'acceptable in terms of the setting of adjacent heritage assets.' Locals Heartbroken as Auchenmalg's Only Pub, The Cock Inn, Closes Down The owners, who have run the Reindeer Inn for over 17 years, say they have been hit hard by the pandemic's aftershocks. A weekly average of 120 Sunday lunches sold before Covid has dropped to just 27. Staff numbers have fallen from 11 to four, and energy costs have surged, with January electricity bills reaching £1,200 and gas bills at £350. The owners say they saw no alternative but to submit the redevelopment plans. The council's report also pointed out that the area is well served by other pubs, including the Black Swan in Overton and the Albion House Club in Middlestown, just over a mile away. The plan has divided the local community. Wakefield Council received 19 objections from residents, with five letters of support. Some locals argue the pub is a vital part of the area's identity. One objector said: 'Heritage is extremely important to the sense of community. "Problems arise from the removal of historical sites.' Another compared it to tearing down iconic cities, asking: 'Would you demolish Bath or York and replace them with high-rise flats?' Supporters of the plan, however, believe the pub's time has passed. One resident told the BBC that: 'The pub is always empty when I pass. "It's not used by the community as there is a pub further on Old Road.' Others pointed out that the new homes would bring much-needed family housing to the area. The Reindeer Inn's history is deeply woven into the fabric of Overton. Early Ordnance Survey maps show its presence, and documents from the National Coal Mining Museum highlight its importance to the miners who once drank there. The Georgian Group has argued that despite modern updates, the building has retained much of its 18th-century charm. Yet despite the objections, the council has ruled that the development meets planning guidelines and balances the need for housing with heritage concerns. The officer's report stated that the council had 'exercised its duty to have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting.' Unless a last-minute challenge emerges, the Reindeer Inn will soon join the long list of historic pubs across the country lost to time and redevelopment. CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) reported that 1,293 pubs permanently closed in 2023, with 194 of them demolished, a figure that highlights the ongoing struggle of the hospitality sector. 2
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New flats planned for listed city centre building
Part of a listed building in Worcester city centre is to be converted into flats - a project drawing a mixed response from special interest conservationists. The upper floors of 2 The Cross in Worcester, as well as the back part of the ground floor, will be turned into seven one-bedroom apartments, although the existing interior layout will remain. The front of the ground floor of the building, which according to Historic England dates from the early 18th century, is currently home to the Skipton Building Society. Worcester City Council, which has approved plans for the conversion, said most of the building had been empty for between three and 10 years. The plans say the development will provide "much-needed housing" in the city. Worcester Civic Society welcomed plans to leave the external appearance of the building unchanged. "It is accepted minor repair and redecoration work to the windows will be required to bring the building up to standard," the society said. The Hopmarket Charity, which owns similar properties in The Foregate, said it had no objection if the flats were "of a high quality and presumably privately managed". But the Georgian Group, which promotes the conservation of Georgian buildings, said it had "serious concerns" about the plans. A spokesperson for the Georgian Group said: "These works are likely to cause a considerable degree of harm to the historic fabric and significance of the grade II* listed building." Council planners said the proposals were "of a sensitive design" and would complement the character of the area. The owners of nearby nightclub Bushwhackers had also expressed concern that future occupants of the proposed flats would be affected by noise from the venue. But planners said concerns over noise had been considered and the plans "would not result in unacceptable living conditions". The council said no car parking spaces would be provided as the site was in a "sustainable location" in the city centre. But there will be space for seven bicycles, in line with planning rules. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Work to regenerate city centre quarter to begin Unpopular plans to build almost 400 homes approved Consultation begins on new plans for city Worcester City Council
BBC News
29-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Listed building in Worcester to be converted into flats
Part of a listed building in Worcester city centre is to be converted into flats - a project drawing a mixed response from special interest conservationists. The upper floors of 2 The Cross in Worcester, as well as the back part of the ground floor, will be turned into seven one-bedroom apartments, although the existing interior layout will front of the ground floor of the building, which according to Historic England dates from the early 18th century, is currently home to the Skipton Building City Council, which has approved plans for the conversion, said most of the building had been empty for between three and 10 years. The plans say the development will provide "much-needed housing" in the Civic Society welcomed plans to leave the external appearance of the building unchanged."It is accepted minor repair and redecoration work to the windows will be required to bring the building up to standard," the society Hopmarket Charity, which owns similar properties in The Foregate, said it had no objection if the flats were "of a high quality and presumably privately managed".But the Georgian Group, which promotes the conservation of Georgian buildings, said it had "serious concerns" about the plans. A spokesperson for the Georgian Group said: "These works are likely to cause a considerable degree of harm to the historic fabric and significance of the grade II* listed building."Council planners said the proposals were "of a sensitive design" and would complement the character of the owners of nearby nightclub Bushwhackers had also expressed concern that future occupants of the proposed flats would be affected by noise from the planners said concerns over noise had been considered and the plans "would not result in unacceptable living conditions".The council said no car parking spaces would be provided as the site was in a "sustainable location" in the city there will be space for seven bicycles, in line with planning rules. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
