Demolition of March Barclays halted over 'hidden' wall

Now, a local developer is warning that Fenland District Council could be facing an expensive bill to ensure the future safety of the end wall of the premises occupied by Sharman Quinney.

The developer, who did not want to be named, said the age of the Sharman Quinney building suggests the wall was built using lime mortar, making the wall less stable than a more modern version built with just cement and sand, meaning costly work will be needed to ensure it stays standing when the connecting wall is removed.

He said: "I have personal experience of dealing with a lime mortar wall, and I know it will not be a cheap fix. It will probably need pinning to make it safe, and that can be quite expensive, depending on what is needed."

The former Barclays Bank site in March Broad Street, was marketed using the best and final offer method, and was done jointly by Maxey Grounds, and BTG Eddisons. (Image: Maxey Grounds)

The developer felt the issue should have been identified from the start when initial surveys were carried out ahead of the demolition.

"I can't understand how they did not realise there would be a problem," he said, "I assume they undertook all the necessary surveys, so I would have thought it would have been picked up then."

However, a council spokesperson explained that the wall in question was not part of the bank building, but predated it and was hidden until the demolition work uncovered it.

This latest development comes as Fenland's cabinet is set to discuss bids made by would-be purchasers of the now derelict site on Monday, March 23, and follows public furore over a predicted loss of more than £826,000 on the council's Barclays project.

The former Barclays Bank site in March Broad Street, was marketed using the best and final offer method, and was done jointly by Maxey Grounds, and BTG Eddisons. (Image: Maxey Grounds)

The council bought the former bank for £750,000 using cash left over from the Government grant for the regeneration of Broad Street.

They then paid £371,000 for it to be demolished, which councillors agreed to do against council officers' advice that the building should be kept, before putting the site on the market for £295,000, through a best and final bid process.

The closing date for bids was February 13; there has been no indication whether any bids were received.

According to the worried developer, who lives in March, the demolition costs are now likely to be higher, and that could spell an even bigger loss for the council, which will have to cover the extra expenditure.

Surveyors were on site this week to assess the situation and determine a way forward.

Initially, when asked for a comment, a council spokesperson said they were unable to say anything as the contractors were on site.

But said that the remaining section of the bank was not supporting the adjacent building, adding it was a party wall, and was being dealt with through established processes.

However, having been pushed for a further comment, the spokesperson added: "Of course, a full survey of the former Barclays Bank site was carried out prior to demolition works commencing. We would not have commenced without doing so.

"However, the remaining section of wall was not identified at that stage because it was concealed within the inaccessible elements of the Barclays branch structure, which nobody could know until access was gained. The wall predated the bank.

"With all such projects, an organisation can only act on the information that is available.

"We are working closely with surveyors and the adjoining property owners to ensure its removal is carried out properly, with the appropriate safeguards in place, and in full accordance with the legal requirements of the Party Wall Act.”

The cabinet is set to discuss the bids in a closed session at its meeting on March 23. It is expected that the winning bidder and the amount bid will be announced after councillors decide who has won.

It has been previously stated that they may not select the highest bidder, but will look at other factors, including what is being proposed, and whether or not it can be delivered within a tight timeline set by the council to ensure the site does not remain a blot on the Broad Street landscape for longer than necessary.