St Peters Court in Lowestoft boarded up ahead of demolition

It comes as preparatory work begins ahead of the demolition of Lowestoft's only tower block.

The lower storeys of St Peters Court in Lowestoft have been boarded up ahead of demolition. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes) The windows and doors in the lower storeys of St Peters Court have been boarded up, with workmen and equipment at the scene.

A 'Prior Notification Demolition' application was lodged with East Suffolk Council earlier this month, which states: "Demolition will remove risks associated with a vacant building and make the site ready for redevelopment."

Workmen at St Peters Court in Lowestoft ahead of demolition. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes) It adds the building "is now vacant and redundant" with the demolition works consisting of "Soft stripping by hand, demolition by controlled mechanical from the 16th floor down to 5th floor using top down method, followed by high reach machinery".

In October last year East Suffolk Council took "the difficult decision" to demolish the town and district's only high-rise block of flats.

St Peters Court in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It came after a survey had revealed it would cost £23m to maintain the building with significant repairs needed, leading the council's cabinet to decide to move tenants into new accommodation prior to demolition.

Equipment near St Peters Court in Lowestoft ahead of demolition. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes) Constructed in 1968 St Peters Court - a 16-storey residential tower block, comprising of 90, two-bedroom flats - dominates the Lowestoft skyline.

With the 90 flats at St Peter's Court vacated earlier this year, all tenants have now been rehoused with alternative accommodation provided elsewhere in the town.

A council spokesman said: "Preparatory works for the demolition are now under way and we hope to commence the main demolition in spring 2025."

Documents - which are 'awaiting decision' with East Suffolk - lodged by agents Richard Vest Architectural Design Ltd state: "As of September 2024, the building was fully decanted and is currently fully vacant.

"It is proposed for the building to be demolished to slab level and made safe."

An example of the scaffold protection earmarked to be in use for the demolition of St Peters Court in Lowestoft. Picture: Richard Vest Architectural Design Ltd (Image: Richard Vest Architectural Design Ltd)

A demolition method statement adds: "A fully monarflexed, designed scaffold will be erected full height around the building to provide protection to the surrounding dwellings and buildings.

"Prior to the actual demolition, an internal strip out will be undertaken.

"The lift cables and cars will be removed from the lift shafts to provide the debris chute for all the various materials to be returned to ground level for later disposal.

"To demolish the structure from the 16th floor down to the fifth floor level, a top down method will be employed."

After this, it states: "the method will change to using a High Reach demolition excavator to reduce the building down to ground level, supported by a second standard demolition specification excavator."

Once demolished, East Suffolk Council will begin exploring options for the re-development of the site.