Lease our building... or else

摘要

A campaign has been launched in an attempt to save a former Ministry of Defence building in Telford from demolition. Sapphire House (pictured), a 90,000 sq ft, five-storey office off the M54, has been empty for more than three years and soaring empty property rates put it at risk of demolition. The annual liability is £250/sq ft, says adviser for the building, GBR Phoenix Beard. Director John Griffiths says: "Charging empty property rates is completely counter-productive when you are trying to increase economic activity. We have got to the point where we cannot brush the issue under the carpet any longer.