Lottery funding announcement gives green light to silo demolition.
A high reach excavator will be used to demolish the Grade I listed South Silo at the Flax Mill, on St Michael’s Street in Ditherington, in the near future.
It comes after the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the scheme £12.8 million on Tuesday, which means work can start to restore the overall site, creating hundreds of new jobs.
Project bosses said the structure was in a congested part of the site and that to improve the overall marketability of the restored Flax Mill space was needed for parking.
A statement in support of the plans said: “The external concrete shell of the silo structure is in poor condition. A number of surveys have been undertaken, which indicate that the likely costs of repair are beyond any economic viability.
“Further studies have been undertaken to explore all possible options which could facilitate the required conservative repair. None can demonstrate economic viability or affordability.”
A controlled demolition using explosives has been ruled out due to potential for damage to other buildings.
Read more here.
