WORK is well underway to demolish old buildings and clear the site to build more than 40 homes on waste land between Cornhill and North Street car park in Wellington.

Demolition contractors reckon the site will be cleared within four weeks.

Fremantle Capital Partners (Wellington) was given planning permission in early February to demolish and replace buildings at the back of Cornhill providing it agreed to protect the ’privacy and security’ of Wellington Silver Band which practises on the site.

The land is right in the middle of the town centre but the overgrown site with its delapidated buildings have been hidden from view, while Cornhill has looked an eyesore for years.

Reaction to the scheme has been mixed but some councillors in Wellington have argued that if the present plans for the site had been turned down it would be years before another was in place.

Conditional planning approval has been given for: Demolition of buildings and replacement with rebuild and extension of 3 Cornhill to create four flats, erection of 34 dwellings and conversion of 4-6 Cornhill into four dwellings with associated access roads, car parking, landscaping and associated works on land to the north of Fore Street.

Conversion with internal and external alterations into four town houses at 4 and 5 Cornhill.