Can City Bank be Saved from Ruin?

BY: STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The former HSBC on Granby Street

Oct 19, 2011 — LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UK (MERCURY) —

An ornate former bank in the city centre is one of 11 buildings in Leicestershire added to a national 'at risk' list. English Heritage experts today warned the former HSBC bank in Granby Street is in desperate need of repairs to its roof and upper floors in order to save it from falling into ruin.

The historic building and 10 county churches were added to the watchdog's list, which is updated annually and now includes 41 buildings, monuments, parks and conservation areas in the county.

Dr. Anthony Streeten, English Heritage's planning director in the East Midlands, said the grade II*-listed building was now badly damaged after standing empty for more than two years following the bank's closure.

He said: "Once the water starts coming in from the roof, there is decay which can lead to deterioration. Keeping water out is the absolute priority. "Because it is vacant, there is nobody there to look at the condition of the building. The very fact that it is vacant may leave it open to vandalism."

The buildings 'at risk' list covers sites that English Heritage considers to be at risk as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has been given planning permission to turn the former bank – still owned by HSBC – into a place of worship, but has not yet decided whether to purchase the building.

ISKCON spokesman Pradip Gajjar said: "We are in the process of planning what needs to be done before we can proceed with purchasing the building."

Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said he was concerned that the building was a new addition to the list. He said: "The building is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic architecture – probably the finest in the city. It will be potentially very serious if the problems are not dealt with in a couple of years. It is concerning when buildings go on to the list. We are hopeful ISKCON are able to use the building. The problem would be if we get delays and if there is deterioration. We don't want four years to elapse before any work starts."

Ten Leicestershire churches have also been added to the risk list after a category for listed places of worship was included for the first time. Among them is the Serbian Orthodox Church of St George, in Rutland Street, which English Heritage said is in very poor condition and at immediate risk of further rapid deterioration.

The church was awarded a £106,000 grant by the English Heritage and Heritage Lottery Fund, in June, to carry out repairs, but work has not yet begun. The other churches, included four in the Melton area, Church of St James the Greater, in Ab Kettleby; Church of St Michael and All Angels, Wartnaby; Church of St Denys, Goadby Marwood, and Church of St Mary, in Freeby.

The others are: Church of St Michael and All Angels, Appleby Magna; Church of St John the Baptist, Muston, in the Vale of Belvoir; Church of the Holy Trinity, Normanton le Heath, north west Leicestershire; Church of St Peter, Shackerstone, near Market Bosworth; and the Church of St Mary, in Sileby.

Taken off the list this year were the Roman town at High Cross, Claybrooke Parva, and the Bowl Barrow, in Misterton, both near Lutterworth, as they have received funding from Natural England to make improvements.

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