Planning bid to rebuild Wythenshawe Hall submitted

A planning application has been submitted to rebuild the clock tower and for repair works to the roof and the exterior walls of the iconic hall, which was badly damaged in an arson attack in March this year.

The philosophy of the repair project is to retain and repair as much material as possible.

For example, fire damaged timbers that remain sufficiently strong will remain. Those that aren’t will be salvaged as much as possible with new timber spliced in or bolted adjacent to the original material.

The detail of the application has been developed in partnership with the Council's advisors, Conservation Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Historic England.

The fire will be able to be read as part of the building’s history, in line with current conservation best practice.

However, in the case of Wythenshawe Hall, planning approval is necessary to officially permit the repair work because some elements cannot replaced exactly like-for-like. This is because conservation guidelines and practices have changed since the last repair programme undertaken in the 1950s.

The planning application is expected to be referred to the Secretary of State who will be asked to endorse Historic England’s recommendations.

If planning consent is approved, and once a suitable contractor with the appropriate heritage skills is appointed, work on the Hall is expected to commence in spring 2017.

The insurance company is working alongside the Council to determine the detail of the works and who will be appointed to do them. Subsequent applications will follow in relation to the proposed interior repairs.

• Cllr Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said:

• Richard Jackson, Chair of Friends of Wythenshawe Hall, said: