Historic brewery plan is deferred

Jul 29 2004 By The Journal

A rare brewery building should be partly demolished and turned into new housing before it falls down of its own accord, planners in Northumberland have urged.

The state of the Maltings and Bolam's Mill in Alnwick was said to be "virtually derelict", Alnwick District Council's development control committee has been told.

Permission was being sought to turn the grade two listed building at Dispensary Street into 33 flats, office and retail space with car parking - all recommended by planning officers for approval. It was agreed by councillors, but a separate application for listed building consent - vital to the works going ahead - was deferred on grounds that it could adversely affect the rare building, which dates from the early 1800s.

The plan by Alnmouth builder John Edwards would involve the demolition of the oldest and largest section.

Chief planning officer Peter Biggers said a positive recommendation could not be made for listed building consent, because they were talking about the demolition of a major part of the building.

"The case has to be clearly made," he added.