Refusal urged for Grade II building demolition
The demolition of Birmingham's Christopher Wray building is being recommended for refusal by officers after a host of objections were submitted.
Birmingham City Council's planning committee is being advised to refuse the destruction of the Grade II-listed building on 7-12 Bartholomew Road when the application is discussed on Thursday (20 October).
The site comprises a group of buildings which originated as a row of Georgian townhouses before being developed into light engineering manufacturers.
An application for its demolition has been submitted by planning agent Donald Insall Associates. There was no application for redevelopment of the site.
Objections were received from The Victorian Society, English Heritage and Save Britain's Heritage.
English Heritage complained about the proposal on the grounds that the land was being sold off at too cheap a price, and said the demolition would "result in the total loss of the heritage asset's significance".
The Victorian Society agreed, stating: "Many such buildings have disappeared from across the city, and where these historic industrial buildings have been identified presumption should be in favour of retention and conservation".
Council officers have recommended the plans for refusal, saying that Planning for the Historic Environment criteria "had not been met" for and no alternative use had been suggested for the site.
An officer's statement added: "I would concur with English Heritage that the property should be remarketed at a more appropriate asking price, by a firm of local agents who understand the Birmingham property market and probably for a period in excess of six months due to the poor state of the property market."
