Old Herald building

Iconic 'ship' building should be listed, says English Heritage

THE landmark ‘ship’ building in Derriford should be listed, according to English Heritage.

Campaigners fighting to save the former Herald headquarters have welcomed the recommendation, revealed in an English Heritage advice report.

Henrietta Billings, of The Twentieth Century Society, said: “We are delighted that English Heritage is recommending this fantastic Plymouth landmark for listing at Grade II*.

“The final decision on listing will be made by the Secretary of State after the election.

“We will calling on the MP and local groups in Plymouth to join us in lobbying the new Secretary of State when they are announced in May.”

The £33.5million building looks set to be demolished after its owners, Daily Mail and General Trust, announced is can’t find a buyer.

Plymouth City Council is yet to decide whether or not to give the go-ahead to the plans to tear down the building, designed by prominent architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw.

The English Heritage report says the building is “powerful, striking and audacious”, noting its curved walls, steel tusks and glass exterior.

The report’s author says the building is “a significant and influential development of fixed-point structural glazing, allowing a

greater degree of sophistication with its organic curving shape and bespoke fittings”, adding it is “a rare example of a large newspaper production facility, built to a high specification, and

integrating industrial and commercial functions into one building.”

The glass and steel landmark has been empty since The Herald and sister paper the Western Morning News moved to Millbay in 2013.

The Herald was formerly part of a regional newspaper group owned by DMGT but became part of a new company, Local World, in 2013.

DMGT has not yet commented on the plans to demolish the building.

But planning documents state it is “unviable” and in a “poor state of repair”, with no prospective buyers coming forward

why? it serves no purpose