A HISTORIC building in Cleethorpes has been given extra protection from demolition.
Councillors this week agreed to confirm an Article 4 Direction on the former Wilkin Chapman building on St Peter's Avenue – meaning that it will be permanently protected from being knocked down without planning permission.
Back in June, Cabinet voted to impose an Article 4 on the red-brick Victorian villa, which was due to lapse on December 21.
However, this latest Cabinet decision makes the order permanent, meaning that a developer will have to apply for planning permission if it wants to demolish the building.
As reported, Maligues Properties Ltd submitted plans to demolish the building and replace it with a new Iceland frozen food store.
The application was rejected by the council's planning committee in August, and the developer has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.
Since then, the building has been included on a draft "List of Buildings of Local Architectural or Historic Interest for Cleethorpes", which has been put out to public consultation.
Speaking at Monday's Cabinet meeting, Councillor Peter Wheatley, portfolio holder for regeneration and environment, said: "This is an important building and it would be a real shame if it was ever knocked down. We should continue with this Article 4 in order to keep the street scene intact.
"It does not restrict developers from using the building for anything else – it just prevents it being knocked down."
A report prepared for councillors by planning officers said: "This proposal will ensure that a gap
is not created in the street, through demolition of the building, within a key shopping frontage in Cleethorpes which might harm the vitality and viability of the town centre."
It added: "The existing building at 46 St Peter's Avenue is a pleasant, well-preserved Victorian villa that contributes positively to the street scene and ambiance of Cleethorpes' main shopping street.
"Public comments made on a recent planning application proposing to redevelop the site made clear that it is valued by many local people."
However, Gareth Preston, of Mason Partners, which represents the owner of the site, Maligues Properties Limited, said: "We are disappointed that the council has chosen not to engage with us and notify us of the ratification of the Article 4 Direction. Likewise we were not invited to put our case forward when it was originally put in place.
"We have always made considerable effort to engage with the council although they have chosen not to reciprocate, which I find surprising as our proposals will bring new jobs and investment in to Cleethorpes where otherwise non would exist.
"We recognise there is some local affinity towards the building, despite this not being worthy of being listed, however we have clearly demonstrated to the council that it is just not suitable for modern retail or office use in its existing form and it is wholly impracticable to convert the building to make it work.
"Our proposal is absolutely in line with local and national policy which prioritises the creation of new jobs and investment. The fate of the building however will now be determined at appeal. The appeal has been submitted and we are awaiting the appointment of an Inspector to make a decision.
"In our view, a decision not to allow the development to go ahead would be a wasted opportunity to bring new jobs to the area and improve the retail offer on the high street.
"The existing building is not suitable for modern commercial use and will most likely remain vacant and dilapidate over time if our proposals are not approved."
