Stopping glass centre demolition 'urgent priority'
BBCA city council has ordered officers to urgently look into measures which could halt the proposed demolition of the National Glass Centre (NGC).
The venue in Sunderland is set to close at the end of the month over repair costs placed between £14m and £45m, which campaigners have disputed.
Ruling party Reform UK Sunderland said it had instructed council officers to look at bringing forward an Article 4 direction as "an urgent priority".
If invoked, it would require site custodian the University of Sunderland to submit a full planning application to knock down the building.
A spokesperson for the university said it continued to follow all planning rules and guidelines "in relation to the closure and subsequent planned demolition" of the site.
It comes after the building was added to SAVE Britain's Heritage buildings at risk register last week.
Save the National Glass Centre chair Carolyn Basing said campaigners hoped an Article 4 direction might "buy us a bit more time".
"We firmly believe that there's a better alternative than just knocking it down, there's got to be a better plan," she said.
"We're up for negotiation, we'd love to talk to people from the university at any time."
Reform UK Sunderland confirmed it had instructed council officers to "treat the work required to bring forward an Article 4 direction as an urgent priority" in a Facebook post on Sunday.
"We have made clear that every necessary step must be progressed at pace, ensuring the council secures the quickest lawful route available to protect the building from demolition," it said.
"The National Glass Centre is far too important to Sunderland's identity, heritage and future to be allowed to disappear without a fight."
Under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015, an Article 4 direction means that a particular development cannot be carried out under permitted development and therefore needs a planning application.
It is yet to be confirmed if and when the direction will be put in place.
Sunderland City Council has been contacted for a comment.
