GREAT Yarmouth's landmark art college was this week being mothballed ahead of a hoped for reopening with a new lease of life in a year's time.Workmen on Tuesday began the process of boarding up the windows to protect the Grade II listed building - signalling the launch of its revival after a decade of false starts.
Liz Coates
GREAT Yarmouth's landmark art college was this week being mothballed ahead of a hoped for reopening with a new lease of life in a year's time.
Workmen on Tuesday began the process of boarding up the windows to protect the Grade II listed building - signalling the launch of its revival after a decade of false starts.
Philip Oldman, of Wellington Homes, which is carrying out the renovation work for owners Flagship Housing said the company had been working closely with conservationists to agree a scheme for 18 affordable homes, some of which will be available under shared equity arrangements.
The new scheme remodels the inside adding four more flats - there is permission for 14 - to make them as inexpensive as possible.
Meanwhile, while the scheme cleared planning hurdles it was necessary to protect the building which structurally is in excellent condition, Mr Oldman s
aid.
Pigeons and vandals were the main threat to the building, he added, but generally it was in very good condition and retained interesting features.
As part of the renovation process experts will have to remove all the windows and railings and take them away for cleaning, repainting and reglazing.
“Flagship Housing has acquired the property and that is legally completed.
“They are now applying for 18 self-contained flats for rented and shared equity units.
“To prevent any further damage we have decided to protect the building and we have also been asked to do this by the local authority. The windows would have been extremely good quality when they were put in.
“Work should start in the early part of the new year and take around nine months. The structure of the building is excellent and the roof is good too. It will cost in excess of £1m but not £2m,” Mr Oldman said.
The former college of art and design has been empty for more than a decade. A previous attempt to convert it into homes sparked an outcry because locals said an extension at the back was out of character and spoiled the area.
The college in Trafalgar Road has been the subject of local frustration for years with the revamp of St George's Park only serving to heighten its dilapidated
state.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here