Bank of England | Newcastle | 4fl | Demolition

[Chatton11]

Yes. I like you NH was a fan of the building, but it is very sad to see it in the state it is today, so the sooner it is put out of its misery the better. Not that I'm looking forward to a lovely big gateway car park!

[NewcastleStu]

Hooray! It's going! However, it's annoying that there aren't any plans about what to replace it with.

[NewcastleStu]

The Thompsons of Prudhoe crew were down there this afternoon but it looked more like they were just securing it. Further up the street, past the gap, they've also removed some of the fences. The treatment on the next building 'up' from BoE looks weird to me.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

.
I'm sure that this article will make some people very happy . .

Bank of England building finally to be demolished
by Michael Brown, Evening Chronicle, December 1st 2011


The demolition of the Bank of England building on Pilgrim Street

The former Bank of England near the Swan House Roundabout in Newcastle has been empty for years, now, after lengthy delays, demolition finally got underway.

But the multi-million pound regeneration of East Pilgrim Street, that once hoped to lure the likes of luxury stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to the city, still lies a long way ahead.

Council leader Nick Forbes said investors are being “actively sought” for the site and the most likely use for the plot in the near future is temporary car parking or a pocket park.

Coun Forbes said: “This building has been an eyesore and a security problem for sometime and I am glad it is finally being demolished. However, the extent of any development in the next few years depends on the economy and the availability of Government funding.”

He added: “The site is a key gateway to the city from the south and it needs to be a fitting entrance to Newcastle.”


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1fHwyu9JF

Message I have just received, which reflects many others . .

C20 heritage assets in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (former Bank of England)

Dear everyone concerned - and I mean 'deeply concerned'.

Appalling.

That building is not only a great landmark at the entrance to medieval Newcastle, and the meeting point of C20 and medieval, but it stands sufficiently apart from the early C19 buildings to have its own interest near them.

It stands boldly like a town gate except that it was at the side of, and not across, the medieval route and filling two of its burgage plots.

So very different from the Get Carter Car Park case, where the medieval plots had long lost their places, and where the fabric was certainly in very poor condition.

This is a fine structure built with the very best materials.

What will happen to those great gold-holding below-surface vaults now?

My impression is that nothing that anyone did could have saved it.

Sadly
G.

[bigchrisfgb]

NH, I know your disappointed about the BOE being taken down. Some other on here are as well. I guess this is a building that divides opinion.

From my point of the view the BOE building is from a brutalist era before I was born and unfortunately most buildings from this era falls into the horrible brutalist category in my own eyes. Also I've never been able to use the building or work there like other on here have or know someone who has to be able to build up a connection with it.

[growly grace]

I thought it as one of the most impressive buildings in the city and I regard it's decline and neglect as criminal.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Part of me sees this building being demolished because it was built so specifically for its original use that it was simply impossible to find an alternative use for it (and the fact that the land owners figured they could make greater profits by building something tall on the site).

However another part of me is sick of us losing building with architectural and structural quality just because they're not currently fashionable. For what it's worth, there does seem to be a greater and growing appreciation of brutalist architecture in London, maybe because there's more of it. It isn't my favourite style and I wouldn't want a whole city of it, but some of the examples we have today should keep their place from an architectural viewpoint.

[Turnbull2000]

Count me in as another who actually likes the BoE building. Always thought it would look great refurbished. And why the heck did they demolish that lovely old building adjacent? Was it structurally unsound?

If recent city developments are anything to go by (the Eldon Square extension is awful IMO), I can only see something hideous taking it's place. That or an empty site and hoardings for several years.

[Newcastle Historian]

It was vital that we didn't lose this building, such a unique and impressive building and so well suited to its location.

It was also 'historical' as it was Newcastle's Bank of England, and not many places ever had one of those.

So many people tried to save it (me included) but we never had a chance.

There are two other buildings (both in the EPS area) that the group I have been involved with still hope to save.

I doubt if I'll get involved though, mainly because the Newcastle Bank of England building was the one I wanted to keep.

[Newcastle Historian]

Bank of England - Newcastle upon Tyne

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

.
It was vital that we didn't lose this building, such a unique and impressive building and so well suited to its location.

It was also 'historical' as it was Newcastle's Bank of England, and not many places ever had one of those.

So many people tried to save it (me included) but we never had a chance.

Here is the new 1970s Bank of England Newcastle building, as it was for most of its life when the B of E were in occupancy . . .



.

[Steve Ellwood]

Had a look at the Bank of England building this morning to see how things were developing. I assume the plastic sheeting that is being erected on the front window spaces is pre-emptive of the removal of asbestos within the building and the need for a sealed atmosphere. However what took me aback was the fact that despite this work at the front, the rear of the building appears to be open to the elements and hoodies! - So I'm a little perplexed by the work being done at the front which seems to me to be undone, i.e. vandalised, by those who are still able to gain access.

[mcphed]

So further to the questions regarding the BoE Branch. I managed to speak to thompsons guys and they said the owner has 10 weeks to demolish otherwise the council are going to take over the demolision. in regard of the Bank house. It was owned by the bank buy leased out to commercial organisations. i worked in the bank from 87 -90 and I can't actually remember it having tenants in it. The reason the demolision could be tricky is that bank house sits above the gatehouse which opens out in to large underground car park which will all need to come down.

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by mcphed

So further to the questions regarding the BoE Branch. I managed to speak to thompsons guys and they said the owner has 10 weeks to demolish otherwise the council are going to take over the demolision. in regard of the Bank house. It was owned by the bank buy leased out to commercial organisations. i worked in the bank from 87 -90 and I can't actually remember it having tenants in it. The reason the demolision could be tricky is that bank house sits above the gatehouse which opens out in to large underground car park which will all need to come down.

I think it would be a case of NCC issuing a Compulsory Purchase Order before they could demolish the BOE and you have to ask yourself, would the Council want to spend the sort of money that would take?

My money is still on bank House coming down.

[mcphed]

Agreed sounded to me like a shallow threat. NCC havn't have money. Really shame it cant me re-fitted. look what they managed with a little imagination at the brewery.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by wj_gibson

Say what you like about Brutalism, at least it made for distinctive architecture.

Whereas what we will eventually see in place of the BoE building will doubtless be something some horrendously bland and commerce-friendly as to be near-criminal.

Totally agree. I wouldn't personally like to see much more brutalism built, but at least it has something to say...

One thing I should say though is that half of the reason that so little decent architecture is built is because of the current planning system. Planners tend to lean towards balnd architecture as planning departments largely have little or no architectural expertise in them. So it's safer to design something bland, knowing it'll go through quickly, than design something exciting which will almost certainly take much longer to go through the system.

[Newcastle Historian]

Newcastle City Council bids to recoup cash spent on building
by Dan Warburton, Evening Chronicle, January 2nd 2012



LEGAL papers have been served on two of the country’s richest developers after a site in Newcastle City Centre was broken into nearly 60 times in just three months. Newcastle City Council has had to spend £22,000 securing the former Bank of England building on Pilgrim Street, which is being demolished as part of plans to re-develop the area.

In a bid to keep out metal thieves, the council has secured the site – but it is now passing the bill on to companies owned by the multi-millionaire Reuben brothers. Stephen Savage, the council’s director of regulatory services and public protection, said: “This site is important because it is a gateway into the city centre and the council is committed to making sure that the building is safe to the public and that a long-term solution is brought to making sure that the site is redeveloped.”

The building, near the Swan House roundabout, has been empty for years since the Bank of England closed their regional branches.

Hopes had been raised that the East Pilgrim Street area would be knocked down by 2010 and rebuilt with £800m of investment – creating 3,000 jobs by 2015.


Read More (Two Pages) - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1iJBqodgp

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Newcastle City Council bids to recoup cash spent on building
by Dan Warburton, Evening Chronicle, January 2nd 2012

The Chron article mentions Demolition has since begun on the Bank of England building.


So has demolition actually commenced?

[Adrian_Swall]

Planning application submitted....

2012/0069/01/NOD | Notification of Demolition: Demolition of Former Bank Of England, 111 Pilgrim Street and Bank House, Carliol Square

http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LXZRMKBS0DL00

[WilfBurnsFan]

Originally Posted by Adrian_Swall

Planning application submitted....

2012/0069/01/NOD | Notification of Demolition: Demolition of Former Bank Of England, 111 Pilgrim Street and Bank House, Carliol Square

http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LXZRMKBS0DL00

Boo!

[Steve Ellwood]

Interesting to read that the proposed demolition is to only to first floor level for the bank building, i.e. to Pilgrim Street level leaving the basement with the 'problem' bullion vaults. Additionally Bank House is to be taken down to mezzanine level leaving the alleys way to the former banks vaults in situ - interesting to read that this to be described as the bullion run.

I also see that the walkway that runs between the two buildings is to be demolished.

Of course nothing in the application as to how the final level will be made good.