Demolition contractors halt Plymouth work after safety concerns
Demolition contractors have called a halt to their work on one of Plymouth's most recognisable buildings, after health and safety inspectors requested a greater exclusion zone around the structure.
The demolition of the city's Hoe Centre, which is owned by the University of Plymouth, has been beset by controversy from the outset, with hundreds of people supporting an effort to save it.
After visiting the Notte Street site on Friday, however, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officer, Jonathan Harris, wrote in an email, "I attended the site today and stopped demolition work on the grounds of public safety being compromised by the limited exclusion zone.
"I am meeting with representatives from Wring, the demolition contractor, on Monday to discuss the way forward."
The building was constructed between 1949 and 1951 and used to house the local Naafi (Navy, Army and Air Forces Institution). It had been identified as one of the city's 20th-Century architectural jewels and was considered a major heritage project.
The university decided to sacrifice it, however, to make room for more student accommodation, as its layout and current state made renovation impractical. Demolition had been expected to finish by October.
The building housed the university's School of Architecture from 1980 until 2007, along with their broadcast centre. The university's director of estates, Martin Berkien, said, "The university could not possibly justify keeping the building up and letting it deteriorate further."
Plans for demolition had been "in the public domain for some time before the work commenced," he said.
