Dandara had previously sought to build four one-bedroom homes, two two-bedroom homes and a new retail unit on the St Peter site, which was the home of the Co-op’s Total Sport store until it closed in 2015.
But the company has now confirmed it no longer plans to demolish the listed 1942 structure which previously featured a large chimney – put in place to allow its three coal-fired ovens to operate.
Dandara is already building 21 one-bedroom and 44 two-bedroom homes on the footprint of a former warehouse a few metres south of the old bakery as part of approved plans.
Although initially planning to retain and restore the historic building, contractors working on behalf of the development company last year reported that it had become structurally unsound and should be demolished.
Despite this, John Ruddy, a senior engineer for the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment Department, raised questions over the reliability of the report, saying that important information was missing and that the findings ‘painted a more positive picture’ than the one portrayed. Michael Stein, of MS Planning, acting on behalf of Dandara, disputed Mr Ruddy’s comments.
But the planning register says the application to demolish the building has been withdrawn. No reason was provided to explain why.
A statement issued by a Dandara spokesperson said: ‘We are reinstating the old bakery rather than demolishing and rebuilding.’
