A SCHOOL storage building could be dismantled and rebuilt to repair foundations and rotting walls to prevent a “significant risk of collapse”.
The Granary Building at Hanford School, in Child Okeford, near Blandford, is a traditional single-storey granary building, currently used as a storage space.
Now, an application for planning permission ans listed building consent has been submitted to Dorset Council to repair the structure – by taking it down and rebuilding it after restorative work.
“The building structure consists of natural hand-made plain tiled roof coverings over a traditional cut roof with two trusses, purlins and rafters, bearing upon solid brick thick walls with detailing at the eaves position,” the application said.
“The walls are of hand-made original clay bricks, laid with lime mortar, supported upon oak sole plates which in turn bear upon traditional saddle stones and brick piers.”
The building is at “risk of collapse”, the planning application said. Picture: Dolman
Over the years, the applications said, external ground levels have built up, causing the sole plates to rot, destabilising the walls.
“While traditional masonry repairs have been considered, by stitching bricks or using restraint strapping, the fundamental issue of the sole plates rotting needs to be dealt with to prevent further settlement and possible collapse,” it said.
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“The only safe and practical method to replace the defective sole plates is to dismantle the building, replace the sole plates (and saddle stones if necessary) and to reconstruct the structure, having recorded the timber roof elements and cleaning the bricks for re-use.”
Ground levels around the structure would also be lowered to prevent future deterioration.
The building would be dismantled and rebuilt if plans are approved. Picture: Dolman/Dorset Council
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