Latest news with #heritagebuilding
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Property developer agrees deal to buy Hanley Town Hall
A buyer has been found for a prominent building in Stoke-on-Trent which has been empty for five offer from Heronceau Properties to buy Hanley Town Hall has been accepted, Stoke-on-Trent City Council building started life as the Queen's Hotel in 1869 and was most recently a wedding venue until it closed in October director Simon Edwards said his plans for the building included residential accommodation, an event space, a coffee shop and an area for start-up businesses. The council had put the property on the market for £500,000 but until now had not been able to secure a buyer for Edwards has previously spoken about how he became a Christian while in prison serving time for armed is also CEO of Walk Ministries, a charity he set up to provide rehabilitation for released prisoners or those who are at risk of being former Meir resident said he remembered walking into the city centre and seeing the building, and recalled how impressive it was in its heyday."We want to be able to bring that building back into use, and we want to get marriages back in there," he said."It's a massive part of the history of Stoke-on-Trent and it's a massive part of Hanley."He said he had split ithe building into four zones with residential accommodation on the top floors, an event space in the former courtroom and council chambers, space for start-ups in the basement and the coffee shop."We see it as a building where people are going to come to visit again."He added it had well looked-after by the council and was structurally sound."We hear all the stuff about some of the historic buildings that are empty," he added."It takes a lot of ideas and it takes a lot of traction to get a building even brought [back into use], of this size and this magnitude." A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: "We can confirm that we have accepted an offer on Hanley Town Hall subject to planning permission and other required consent being obtained."We are working with Heronceau Properties to ensure the building is put to the best use for the local community." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ewan McGregor blocked from replacing roof on Scottish mansion
Ewan McGregor 's application to replace the roof of his £2 million Scottish mansion has been refused by Perth and Kinross Council. Architects stated the existing lead roof was "beyond repair" due to fatigue cracking and splits, and was also at risk of theft. The actor's representatives proposed replacing the lead with a single-ply membrane Sarnafil roof, as patch repairs were no longer viable. The council denied the application, asserting that the proposed non-traditional methods and materials would not preserve the grade C-listed building's character and special architectural interest. McGregor bought the 1789-built, ten-bedroom villa in 2023 and had previously received permission for other renovations, including a new garage and master bedroom. Ewan McGregor's bid to fix roof on £2 million Scottish mansion refused
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Netting to be replaced due to birds destroying it
The netting of a Grade II-listed building will be replaced after it was destroyed by the same birds it was meant to deter. Westmorland and Furness Council approved the application for a property in Barrow's Duke Street. According to documents, new protection was needed after bird "attacks" left the existing netting holed and frayed. "These birds create a nuisance to the building occupiers and create mess and dirt on facade of the building," the application said. It said the barrier aimed to keep birds from nesting on the elevations of the structure or landing on the ledges and cornices. The building dates back to 1873 and sits within the Central Barrow Conservation Area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Westmorland and Furness Council
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Barrow building's netting to be replaced after birds destroy it
The netting of a Grade II-listed building will be replaced after it was destroyed by the same birds it was meant to and Furness Council approved the application for a property in Barrow's Duke to documents, new protection was needed after bird "attacks" left the existing netting holed and frayed."These birds create a nuisance to the building occupiers and create mess and dirt on facade of the building," the application said. It said the barrier aimed to keep birds from nesting on the elevations of the structure or landing on the ledges and building dates back to 1873 and sits within the Central Barrow Conservation Area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Times
17-06-2025
- General
- Times
St Paul's trains new craftsmen to save historic buildings
The name Christopher Kempster may not be widely known, but nearly everyone in Britain will have seen his work. The craftsman, who trained with and became a close associate of Sir Christopher Wren, was the master stonemason at St Paul's. So vital was he to its building that, in records from the 1690s, his occupation was listed simply as 'St Paul's Cathedral'. Now the hunt is on for young people to follow in his footsteps. The cathedral is setting up a new centre for apprentices, warning that Britain's most important buildings are on the 'cliff edge' of losing vital skills to repair them. The Wren Centre of Excellence, launched to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the foundation of Wren's St Paul's Cathedral and named in honour of its architect, will train young people in carpentry, stonemasonry and heritage building skills.
