St Modwen and Goold Estates’ plans for the £90m St Matthew’s Quarter scheme in Walsall have been set back owing to a fire destroying the centrepiece of the scheme.
A fire ripped through the listed four-storey Shannons Mill, a historic landmark feature within the development, at the weekend.
Norton & Proffitt, the joint venture between St Modwen and Goold Estates, has been forced to rethink the plans.
The former Victorian mill building, which was to have been converted into 45,000 sq ft of offices, 48 apartments and 20,000 sq ft of retail space, will be demolished for safety reasons. The team is now working up new plans.
Anthony Glossop, chairman of St Modwen, said: ‘Whilst the principal damage was on the historic Shannons Mill site there was some significant damage to the new-built apartments in Phase one caused by their proximity to the main fire.’
‘We have been working closely with our insurers during the demolition process . Whilst it is not a financial problem it is certainly a significant emotional loss.’
