Another listed building lost

[Nemesis]

Arson:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6931927.stm

 

[John&Lou]

I work in Walsall and know this building. It covers a huge area in the centre of town and was an integral part of the town's redevelopment plans.

It's a lot better looking (even now!) than the hideous monstrosity that Asda have been allowed to put up next to it.

 

[Nemesis]

Let's hope something can be salvaged - it's very sad news indeed.

 

[Fizzer]

Gutted little swines, I hope they find them.

 

[Nemesis]

They did with this one:


http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/abbeytown-fire.htm

 

[John&Lou]

Let's hope that if they are caught and charged and convicted, the courts don't go all soft and feel sorry for them.

There is no excuse or justification for this sort of behaviour - a long custodial sentence is the only way to punish these people.

 

[ljn]

Very sad.

I bet the owner is happy, though. It's going to be a hell of a lot cheeper to knock out a massive block of apartments or offices without having to worry about listed building consent.

At the moment we are very concerned about this building: http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=424431 The owner has to rennovate it as a condition to build a block of flats behind. I have spoken to the engineering firm doing a survey, and they have a problem of access to the site behind. A fire would solve 3 problems in one go:

- Access to the site behind
- Re-gain the large front garden as brownfield building land
- No messing around restoring a grade II* listed building

A fire would probably make the owner in excess of £2,000,000 over night!

 

[Nemesis]

Yes - it's amazing how many mystery fires happen isn't it... however, on occasions the building has to be rebuilt around what's left.

I did look at the development plans for the area around the mill at Walsall - they didn't look too sensitive. The local authority was thrilled about Asda...

 

[Lady_Mari]

Hmmm...

A Gd 2 listed barn sitting in middle of an acre plot went up in flames next to where I used to live, suspiciously 3 times over two days!

There are six properties on this plot now.

 

[Nemesis]

How convenient!

Still local authorities are frequently just as bad - here's more at Hackney:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_xn_diCPFsAg/RokA3sMncKI/AAAAAAAAAGc/uhu-HcaiyGc/s1600-h/21-06-07.jpg

if you look back at June and before...

http://opendalston.blogspot.com/

http://opendalston.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html

 

[Lady_Mari]

So true.

I had always thought it was builders that were responsible for cramming new build homes cheek by jowl onto various sites until a site recently was applied for on land known to flood in my small town.
The builder proposed 22 apartments on stilts with garaging in a separate block - the council have insisted on 32 apartments with garages on the ground level.

Dare I ask where the huge need for 'affordable' houses comes from? Could it be anything to do with the immigrant situation?

 

[Nemesis]

Actually, I have my suspicions it comes from developers... if we re-used many more empty buildings and flats above shops etc it would be a start.

But developers love undeveloped land and ticky tacky boxes.

 

[charlie-ia]

is this the same building?
http://www.regeneratelive.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=697&storycode=3080112&c=1&encCode=00000000011542.pdf

 

[Nemesis]

Can't tell - the link doesn't work. Sorry!

 

[John&Lou]

is this the same building?
http://www.regeneratelive.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=697&storycode=3080112&c=1&encCode=00000000011542.pdf

Yes

 

[Nemesis]

Now why did the link suddenly become 'live'?

How sad - looks a good building. Tried to find the listing description but no luck as yet.

 

[charlie-ia]

sorry, was trying so hard with url &tiny url, i cut a bit of it out by mistake.
had to edit it.