Issue - meetings

This report updates the Executive on the condition of 17-21 Piccadilly, the former Reynards Garage, and seeks a decision on whether to demolish, or carry out emergency health and safety repairs, to the building.

Resolved:  That the Executive agree to:

(i)     Apply for planning permission to demolish 17-21 Piccadilly and proceed with the works to demolish the building as quickly as possible, if that permission is granted.

(ii)      Receive a report in September 2015 setting out the work undertaken to assess a future regeneration of the area so that an appropriate future use for the site can be identified, which supports the overall development proposals for the Southern Gateway project and ensures that a replacement structure reflects the important heritage of the current building.

(iii)     Instruct Officers to actively engage with interested groups, including the Yorkshire Air Museum and the York Civic Trust on the future of the Southern Gateway area.

Reason:     In order to address the health and safety risks to the public and ensure that the relevant groups are able to give their views as the plans progress.

Members considered a report which updated them on the condition of 17-21 Piccadilly, the former Reynard’s Garage site and sought a decision to demolish or carry out emergency health and safety repairs.

The Executive were reminded of the history of the site and the significance of the site in relation to the Southern Gateway project. Details of the poor structural condition of the building were set out in two structural inspections of the building undertaken in 2009 and 2015, attached at Annexes 3 and 4 of the report. It was noted that whilst any structural repairs would only be temporary it would leave the building unusable for any other purpose.

In relation to earlier speakers’ comments the Executive Member expressed his support for retention of the site’s history. However the Director of the Yorkshire Air Museum had confirmed that their aim was to create a presence in the centre of the city by preserving the story of Airspeed through a high quality attraction and the retention of this building was not critical to their plans.

In answers to Members’ questions Officers confirmed that there was no one element in the building which had sufficient merit to justify its retention.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

Option 1 – Apply for planning permission to demolish the building at an estimated cost of £100,000-£135,000. This would take 8-12 weeks to get a decision during which time the risk of collapse would persist.The building should be monitored, during the period before any planning application has been determined to review any further deterioration.

Option 2 – Carry out emergency structural reinforcement to the building, at an estimated minimum cost of £95,000, to prevent a potential collapse of the building. This would involve temporary shoring up of the building by inserting ties into the building to attach the walls to the floor and insert a missing truss into the roof. This work would have to be undone when any redevelopment was undertaken and it is extremely likely that if any facade were to be retained it would need to be taken down and rebuilt. It is therefore purely a short term measure to defer a decision about the retention of any part of the fabric of the building. These works will not enhance the value of the property. The cost of these works could escalate significantly as the work commences as new structural issues may be encountered.

Resolved:  That the Executive agree to:

(i)     Apply for planning permission to demolish 17-21 Piccadilly and proceed with the works to demolish the building as quickly as possible, if that permission is granted. ^1.

(ii)      Receive a report in September 2015 setting out the work undertaken to assess a future regeneration of the area so that an appropriate future use for the site can be identified, which supports the overall development proposals for the Southern Gateway project and ensures that a replacement structure reflects the important heritage of the current building. ^2.

(iii)     Instruct Officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14