Naafi demolition work continues as conservation status assessed
WORK to demolish the former Naafi building on the Hoe is continuing despite English Heritage weighing up whether it should be listed.
The University of Plymouth, which is behind the demolition of the Hoe Centre in Notte Street, said yesterday that there are no plans to halt the work to pull down the building.
English Heritage is due to advise the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the next couple of days as to whether the building should be listed. If the department does list it, it may become protected from further demolition in the coming weeks.
Some people who are against it being pulled down are hoping the university will stop demolition while listing is being decided.
But Martin Berkien, university director of estates and facilities management, said yesterday: "Demolition work is continuing and there are no plans to halt it while the case is being considered by English Heritage.
" If we were to stop now there would be significant cost implications, not to mention public safety issues in leaving a half-demolished building on that site.
"There have been many different opinions expressed on the Hoe Centre, and the reality is that we cannot base our decisions on the uncertainties of a case that has already been rejected by English Heritage in the past."
The building missed being listed in 2006. In its assessment then, English Heritage said it had 'considerable local historical and architectural interest'. If it is listed this time, the university will need special consent to continue demolition.
Work to knock down the building was halted a week ago by the Health and Safety Executive on public safety grounds, but demolition is continuing inside, and on parts of the outside.
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by roger, plymstock
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 12:44PM
“Well does no one realise that the University Chancellors will whatever any one says will demolish the building by any legal method availiable ,i worked there for years and knew they would some time ago ,the building is an icon for Plymouth and its a pity prince charles has not been involved as his aunt opened it and he like to save buildings with old charm .I am of course biased but when the new hall is built a clock at least similar on a tower should be included in the style it was . Basically the university hated the Hoe centre and want it gone . Sad”
by Mick, Barbican
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 10:51PM
“Davy quote- "Knock the Barbican bogs down! Awful stench"
Yes, the block was built by past lefty councils (along with the nearby hideous Mayflower Centre) to destroy the waterfronts olde world charm.”
by Davy, Barbican
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 10:32PM
“Mos Def - Knock the Barbican bogs down!
Awful stench as you walk buy and it was embarrassing to see the tourists walking out of there looking disgusted last week.
The Ad Mac does well out of the horrendous khazi as lots of people pop in there and use their clean loo's and buy a beer as a thank you
Don't tell me it's a historic bog fer evvin's sake...
Davy”
by GOM, Plymouth
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 10:09PM
“Let's hope they get it pulled down before they decide to list it.”
by Chris, Sutton Harbour
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 6:54PM
“What onearth is all the fuss about this building. It is totally unattractive old brick building serving no useful benefits to anyone. Economically it would not be worth trying to convert.
Those who say they were not told that it was going to be knocked down should get real. Do you expect the local authority to write to you all about possible thing or every building owner have to advertise their every move - not possible or real. If you want to knock down something you own then there is very little to stop you - same applies to other building owners.
If you any real interest in what was going on then you would have seen that a planning application went in to knock this building down on the 1st June - can be seen on PCC websites which all you moaners above will be able to access.
As for Johnno, well he really should get real and realise that PCC and Mrs Pengelly can not have any real influence on this. There are procedures and they have been followed from what I can see. Johnno - start acting your old age, accept that the Life Centre is happening and shut up moaning about PCC and Mrs P. Everyone is getting bored with you.
To the do gooders trying to list useless buildings, how about the Barbican toilet block - Its crumbing, looks terrible and is surely your blinkered target.”