Newton Abbot fire at disused engine shed (21/10)

[Polarbear]

Just passed Newton Abbot station on a bus & it looks like the formerly engine shed is well alight. Fire brigade in attendance.

 

[randyrippley]

a couple of news reports
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/residents-evacuated-road-closed-huge-2132428

Residents of Newton Abbot have been evacuated from their homes and a nearby road has been shut after a fire at a derelict warehouse continues to spread.

Firefighters are now into their sixth hour of tackling the fire which has continued to spread through the historic Victorian Carriage and Repair Shed.

The fire was first reported at 1.15pm. The roof has now collapsed almost all the way along the building and the fire shows no sign of abating...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-45932338

Huge clouds of smoke have been billowing from a disused warehouse which has caught fire.

Eight fire crews are tackling the blaze at the Brunel Industrial Estate in Newton Abbot, Devon.

There are no reports of injuries, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said. It sent crews from Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton, Bovey Tracey, Totnes, Danes Castle and Teignmouth...

looks like a major event with fire crews pulled from a large area
cleanup is likely to be an issue: looks like a large asbestos roof, and the fire is said to have broken through. There is going to be a toxic dust problem


edit
live updates on this link
https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/live-updates-huge-fire-breaks-2131796

 

[Crossover]

I’m sure I read somewhere that the shed was actually due for demolition in the coming days as well

 

[MarkyT]

I’m sure I read somewhere that the shed was actually due for demolition in the coming days as well

I know the site is due to become a new Aldi supermarket. Not sure when work is supposed to start. Although they have always planned to completely remove the old building, the latest iteration of the plans at least try to recreate some of the brick and window details of the original:

 

[PermitToTravel]

Is this fire perhaps slightly convenient then? Saves them from having to preserve the facade?

 

[Mag_seven]

Train services through Newton Abbot don't seem to have been affected.

 

[MarkyT]

Is this fire perhaps slightly convenient then? Saves them from having to preserve the facade?

It makes no difference. The original building was always going to come down entirely with no facade walls preserved except for a small section of stone wall at The south end which stands as a separate structure. The latest plans just show an exterior finish for the new building in brick that reflects the old building details including the arched windows on the street side. The plans originally published showed a much plainer finish in brick without the arch forms and windows.

 

[DarloRich]

It makes no difference. The original building was always going to come down entirely with no facade walls preserved except for a small section of stone wall at The south end which stands as a separate structure. The latest plans just show an exterior finish for the new building in brick that reflects the old building details including the arched windows on the street side. The plans originally published showed a much plainer finish in brick without the arch forms and windows.

agreed - however it does make demolition slightly easier! People seem to see conspiracies everywhere. Like Aldi need to cheat the system!

That isnt to suggest "buildings going on fire just before planning is approved" doesn't occur. it does. However not with an international supermarket chain!

 

[Coolzac]

Exactly- the risk to reputational damage would far exceed any marginal gain in an easier demolition. It might not even be any easier- as someone said earlier- it might have created a toxic dust problem.

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

I think people are right to be suspicious: just read 'Nooks and Corners' in Private Eye and it's full of tales of developers allowing listed buildings to decay or be vandalised in order to de-facto demolish a building they otherwise couldn't.

However, that probably isn't the case here given it was due to be demolished and, as righly mentioned, this makes the process far more difficult and costly. Even the suggestion that asbestos might have been in the structure will entail specialist assesment and searches before the regular demolition men can get to work.

 

[hwl]

I think people are right to be suspicious: just read 'Nooks and Corners' in Private Eye and it's full of tales of developers allowing listed buildings to decay or be vandalised in order to de-facto demolish a building they otherwise couldn't.

However, that probably isn't the case here given it was due to be demolished and, as righly mentioned, this makes the process far more difficult and costly. Even the suggestion that asbestos might have been in the structure will entail specialist assessment and searches before the regular demolition men can get to work.

Agreed, I suspect the demolition cost and timescales will actually have gone up.

 

[MELVYN]

Now confirmed as arson.

 

[Llanigraham]

Agreed, I suspect the demolition cost and timescales will actually have gone up.

They will, because now the asbestos sheets that were generally whole and sound are now small bits and dust, so will need great (and more expensive) removal. Also any brickwork or steel work has now been weakened and made unstable so needing more careful demolition.