Heritage group consulted on future of blaze site

Work to demolish the remainder of the building was completed last March

Heritage chiefs have been consulted over the possible redevelopment of a fire-hit bakery site.

The blaze gutted The Bakehouse in Maryport, Cumbria, in February 2023, as well as the building's upper floors.

Last year, Cumberland Council pulled down the remainder of the property after its owners "failed to comply" with a court order instructing them to arrange the work themselves.

On the second anniversary of the fire, the authority revealed it had carried out a feasibility study with Historic England to look at options for the spot on Senhouse Street.

The Labour-led council worked with emergency services to knock down the front of the building in the days following the fire.

After the property's owner did not carry out further works to make the site safe, the authority appointed a contractor and warned it would seek to recover the costs.

'Hole in the High Street'

With props put in place to shore the adjoining walls up, the demolition was completed last March.

Council leader Mark Fryer said at the time the authority was keen to ensure "this hole in the High Street is filled".

Asked this week whether any steps had been taken, the council said it had "commissioned a feasibility study with Historic England to look at options for the future redevelopment of the site".

It did not disclose any further details.

Historic England - a government body - confirmed it had provided funding for the "options appraisal" through a scheme aimed at rejuvenating town centres.

A spokeswoman said it had been "conducted by a consortium of local real estate and heritage professionals and examined a variety of options which were considered in terms of their deliverability, viability, harm to the conservation area, and the public benefits they would bring".

"We understand that the council planned to share its findings with local stakeholders in due course," she added.

The owner of the site has been approached for comment.