Demolition at Winter Gardens

Work to demolish part of the Winter Gardens in order to improve access is due to be completed next month.
Demolition work at the Winter Gardens, Leopold GroveDemolition work at the Winter Gardens, Leopold Grove
Demolition work at the Winter Gardens, Leopold Grove

Bulldozers are currently tearing down a former multi-storey car park and shops on the Leopold Grove side of the Grade II-listed complex.

The demolition will clear a site to enable easier access to the landmark for large lorries bringing in stage scenery and equipment.

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A surface-level car park, providing 64 spaces only for use by Winter Gardens staff, will also be provided.

But the council says it will be reviewing the potential of the site in relation to other long-term options.

Work has had to be carried out to fit in with productions at the Opera House.

Michael Williams, managing director of the Winter Gardens, said: “We have had to undertake the work in three phases.

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“The first phase was to isolate the services, remove the asbestos etc, and then last year we removed the roof and closed the upper car park.

“Stage three has been to demolish the plinths and the bridge going up to the car park.

“We have had to work round the theatre schedules and next week we have Joseph the musical here, so we will have to stop work for that.

“The business has continued to operate as normal throughout.

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“As vehicles bringing stage scenery etc to the Opera House have got bigger, it has proven to be a challenge to reverse into such a tight space.

“This will provide much wider access and will also mean there is parking space for the lorries and they will no longer have to take up on-street parking bays alongside the Winter Gardens.”

The new surface car park will see the number of spaces reduced from the current 107 to 64. Listed building consent for the scheme was granted in 2014 by the council which owns the Winter Gardens.