Save it - or it's gone

Sep 20 2006 By Julia Kennard, The Journal

Three fires strike the building in eight years

The Grade II listed Bonded Warehouse was built in the 1840s.

The blaze in March, which ripped through the building, was the third in eight years.

In early 1997 the building, which has been the subject of a series of planning bids, was hit by two arson attacks within nine weeks.

One was the biggest fire seen on Tyneside for 10 years.

The building was so unstable following the blaze in March that by August, police and fire investigators had still not been able to enter.

The Quayside, from the eastern end of The Close to its junction with Forth Banks, is still closed.

Regeneration of the warehouse was originally marketed by Adamson Developments in 2004 as part of a £30m project.

Buyers snapped up 121 flats, worth £23m, within two weeks.

Proposals had been hampered by planning problems and the scheme was more than a year behind schedule, but bosses said work had been due to start the week of the fire.