THE VICTORIA Works building on the former Bymacks site in Dursley will be completely demolished if the faade can not be saved.

An application to knock down what remains of the building has been submitted by site developer Crest Nicholson and, should the frontage prove to be too badly damaged to retain, then the whole building will be demolished and will not have to be replaced.

Stroud District Council principal planning officer (south) John Balfe explained that the application had been submitted and whether the building was to be preserved depended entirely on its structural safety.

He said: "If the faade is sound and strong enough to stay while the rest of the building is demolished, then that can be incorporated in the plans.

"But we will have to look and see what is capable of being salvaged.

"If the whole thing is knocked down, then we have no powers to demand that Crest Nicholson rebuild anything there in the same style. It is not a listed building."

The harsh reality will come as a blow to town councillors in Dursley, who, at their meeting on Tuesday, voted to write to planners asking them to insist on retention or rebuilding of the Victoria Works.

Cllr Anne-Marie Rutter said: "In Dursley we do not have a wealth of buildings of this type and it would be very sad if we lost this one.

"I think Crest Nicholson should be made to build a replica no matter what the cost."

The town council's only hope of keeping a similar building on the site is that the faade will be strong enough to be left standing and then built onto.

However, the support structure was severely damaged in last month's fire and could make retaining the frontage very difficult indeed.

The town council has also made the point that the derelict factory units on the site remain a danger.

Cllr Patrick Blitz said: "The other buildings are still not secure. People are still able to get into them."