By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A water company is assisting with an investigation into the cause of the near collapse of a bar in Nottingham city centre.
Brass Monkey, in High Pavement, closed in November last year after subsidence almost caused one of the building’s walls to buckle.
Scaffolding was been put up and it was discovered bar fittings, flooring and shelving were the only things preventing the total collapse of the wall.
Structural and civil engineering firm Tunstall Smith King, which has been investigating the cause of the problems, says water leaking from a Severn Trent Water sewer pipe is the likely cause.
The firm conducted CCTV investigations that confirmed damage to the pipe, from which water has been escaping.
A Severn Trent spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it is looking into the issue.
“We are aware of the issue and continue to support the local authority and structural engineers with the ongoing investigations to determine the cause,” they said.
According to a planning application submitted to Nottingham City Council, the front section of the building facing High Pavement will be rebuilt and the second floor flat will be converted for bar use to match the rest of the building.
The plans, from building owners Flack Investments Ltd, are now being considered by the council.
“That scaffold stopped rotation of building but ongoing water ingress means foundations have continued to subside,” Tunstall Smith King’s inspection report says.
“This has now caused the bottom of the wall to fail structurally, and it is only the secondary effects of floors and finishes that are stopping collapse.
“If left unattended the wall could buckle and cause a building collapse.
“Further CCTV investigation of the [Severn Trent Water] sewer adjacent to the building foundation has confirmed damage to the pipe which will allow surface water to escape, thus being the likely cause of the ground failure.”