Heritage building granted a stay of execution
THE HISTORICAL importance of a former Burbage car sales centre has staved off its destruction.
The old DM Rock building on Rugby Road was due to be flattened along with adjacent units once used by Johnsons dry cleaners.
Goodman Real Estate had submitted a notice to the borough council asking if prior approval was required for the demolition.
The company is behind the wider Sketchley Brook scheme, which has already seen redevelopment of swathes of scrubland and disused industrial plots stretching from the Ashby Canal to Hinckley Railway Station.
Works were expected to begin on February 1 and last around a month.
However, the burgeoning neighbourhood plan for Burbage recognises the local historical value of the DM Rock building so the council has ordered Goodmans to delay any action until further consultation over the building has taken place.
The move also aligns with a new borough-wide Heritage Strategy which aims to give greater protection and prominence to areas of conservation interest.
It means people are invited to make comment and submit information on their views, knowledge and personal experience of the building, allowing the council to gain a fuller picture of its cultural significance. Representations must be made by February 12.
A spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said: “When a building owner applies for a determination as to whether prior approval will be required to demolish a building then HBBC’s usual involvement as the local planning authority is limited to commenting only on the method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site.
“The exception to this is when a building is statutory listed or subject to any other similar protection, which is not the case with the Johnson’s unit or any of the attached buildings, including the former DM Rock and Sons building.
“However, officers have identified the heritage interest of the former DM Rock and Sons building and are aware it is identified in the heritage section of the emerging Burbage Neighbourhood Plan as a building of local importance, so while the building currently has no statutory or special protection, the council wanted to allow the building’s future to be considered as part of any planning proposal for that site.
“In order to do this, the council has made an Article 4 Direction.
“This requires the owner of the building to submit a full planning application for the demolition of the building, which enables the council to consult with the community on the future of the building and consider its future as part of the overall development of the area.”
The Sketchley Brook scheme, ongoing since 2011, initially promised 375 homes, offices, industrial units, parks, footpaths and cycleways along with shops and cafes, including a central retail and commercial area called The Fulcrum.
The lake was set to be given a makeover and used as a fishing pool.
The Fulcrum has not yet materialised. And the old Sketchley engine house and power house, which were expected to be salvaged and converted were demolished.
The entire site of the Sketchley Brook development incorporates Rugby Road park, businesses off Brookfield Road, the old Johnsons factory site and buildings, the Nelson Burgess site, Sketchley Brook, the water reclamation works, Jericho Farm and Logix Park.
According to recollections from members of the Hinckley District Past and Present Facebook page the building was once transport office and stables for Johnsons, later housing electric vehicles, before being taken over by a firm called Sugdens then by car dealer Dave Rock who has since moved to Atherstone.