School loss a ‘shameful piece of civic vandalism’

Former council planning director blasts demolition of landmark

The demolition of the former St Mary Bredin School has been branded a “shameful piece of civic vandalism” by the council’s former director of planning.

The Victorian building, which stood for 160 years opposite the city wall in Rhodaus Town, has now been reduced to a pile of rubble to make way for a block of 146 student flats.

It was set to be given a reprieve after councillors rejected the scheme last May against the recommendation of the authority’s planning officers.

But the decision was overturned by the planning inspector in January, with bulldozers arriving on site soon after. Many city residents have expressed their sadness at seeing the destruction of the landmark.

Among them is Mansell Jagger, who spent more than a decade in charge of the planning department at Canterbury City Council. He believes the authority should have taken steps to protect the old building. “The demolition can only be described as a shameful piece of civic vandalism,” he said. “This was a fine example of a mid-victorian school, largely unaltered and in good condition. Most councils would have been proud to have such a building in their area. “It should have been included in the local list of buildings of historic and architectural interest and was perfectly capable of being reused as a student facility in the new developments - its retention should have been written in to the planning brief for the area.

“The demolition goes against not only the council’s heritage strategy and the Local Plan, but also against national policy guidance. “To my knowledge, Canterbury has not wilfully lost an historic building for more than 50 years - the council should be ashamed of itself.”

The St Mary Bredin School opened in 1860 and welcomed pupils until it closed 80 years later. It reopened during the 1940s as one of Canterbury’s British Restaurants, providing nourishing food during the Second World War. The building was given a new lease of life in the 1950s when it was bought by Rootes Ltd and used as the office for its second-hand car business. Architect Guy Hollaway says he understands concerns over the demolition but insists the new-build will blend into the cityscape.

“I do sympathise and completely understand local resistance to the loss of the building,” he admitted. “However, the decision to not list it was down to Historic England and they reviewed it in great detail. The old school was assessed at great lengths and it was considered to be incredibly expensive to renovate - it was beyond viable use. “As with all our projects, we understand the area and draw up quality architecture that can stand the test of time. “While change can be difficult, we know that the newbuild will bed into and complement the city.” David Cawley, another critic of the development, said: “Surely an architect of Mr Hollaway’s ability could have incorporated the school within his scheme?

“It took Hitler and the might of the Luftwaffe to bring that building down.

“The old school needed only the planning inspector and Mr Hollaway.”

The former St Mary Bredin School (left) has now been demolished

Former city council director of planning Mansell Jagger and, right, a CGI of the proposed flats