Works to repair a trading estate building seriously damaged by a fire three years ago have stopped due to funding and logistical issues.

A devastating fire tore through the Tower Building at St Michael’s Trading Estate in Bridport in July 2018, which destroyed art studios offices and offices.

Site owner Hayward & Co aims to restore the estate back to its former glory.

Restoration works to the Tower Building, said to cost more than £1 million, began in November 2020 with a view to providing a home to 11 units and studios.

The repairs have been subject to multiple delays including the Covid-19 pandemic, a national shortage of materials and lorry drivers, and technical design issues.

Work had been due to finish by mid-November, but it has been delayed again.

Work has been on hold over the last few weeks with the estate manager Martin Ridley blaming financial and logistical issues.

Mr Ridley explained how he had negotiated with loss adjusters and their insurer Aviva concerning key details of their building's insurance policy and how Aviva would pay for the building’s repairs.

He said Hayward & Co has worked through a ‘complicated process’ to secure a contractor to carry out the works and claim the stage payments required to fund and continue the renovation.

Describing the new hurdle as 'frustrating', Mr Ridley has already written to businesses within the trading estate to offer an update.

He wrote: “As you will have noticed the reinstatement work in the Tower Building has stopped.

“The absence of sawing, drilling and cutting noises and builders banter for the last couple of weeks has led many of you to ask the key question: Why?

“It could be said this is partly due to materials shortages or a lack of qualified HGV drivers or Covid infections or a dozen other excuses.

“But the real reason was indicated in the article that appeared in Bridport News a few weeks back headed ‘Works nearing completion at St Michael’s’ and referring to the frustration of attempting to negotiate with loss adjusters and Aviva our insurers concerning the main elements of our building's insurance policy.

“We believed we had resolved these issues following a major hiatus at the beginning of the work back in 2019 and hoped we could look forward to a clear run towards completion of the contract but similar issues have arisen again.

“We will of course let you know as soon as we are made aware of any change to the current situation and can be certain when work might resume.”

Mr Ridley also spoke about the urgent need to reopen ‘tower alleyway’ which runs from the entrance down to the Red Brick café.

He said the alleyway’s reopening would increase the area’s footfall and lure more customers onto the estate.

“We appreciate the critical need to open up the Tower alleyway again so that footfall is increased and potential customers can be drawn onto the estate more easily”, Mr Ridley wrote.

“We would be grateful for any suggestions as to how we can make the St Michael’s Lane entrance more attractive once the builders fencing has been removed and the scaffolding taken down. All contributions and suggestions appreciated.”

Since January 2020, 133 people have registered an interest in moving their business to one of the building’s new units - with businesses ranging from breweries to jewellery makers, sculptors and ceramics sellers.

An Aviva spokesperson said: "We continue to work with the project team to bring the claim from St Michael’s Bridport Tower to completion. 

"We have made significant advance payments to the customer to enable work to be carried out throughout the reinstatement period.

"The works undertaken so far have included repairs covered by the insurance policy as well as improvements not covered. 

"While it is understandable that when damage occurs improvements to the building may be made, these costs will not always fall under the cover afforded by the policy.

"As the works reach their conclusion we need to understand and agree whether improvements and additional works undertaken are covered by the policy.

"We are continuing to work with the customer’s project team to get the necessary information to be able to consider this, and hope to bring the claim to a conclusion soon."