Bass Maltings, Sleaford

In the late-19th century, the Sleaford area was a major barley producer and by the 1880s, Sleaford was a stop on railway lines connecting the town to Boston, Grantham, Bourne, Spalding and Lincoln.[1][4] These qualities made the town desirable for the production of malt, a crucial ingredient in beer production. The brewers Bass, Ratcliffe and Gretton Ltd were attracted to the town and in 1880 proposed a new malting complex there, which would consolidate malting closer to the barley source and reduce costs by up-scaling production.[1] Drilling in 1892 revealed suitable artesian water sources under Sleaford; plans were submitted nine years later and over 13 acres of land off Mareham Lane was purchased; work started in 1901 and was complete by 1907.[1]

The company ran the complex at full capacity until after the Second World War; however, in the 1950s, Bass installed new and more efficient pneumatic malting systems at their original Burton-on-Trent plant, making the Sleaford complex redundant and paving the way for its closure in 1959.[1] Vacant space was let to businesses, but the enormous complex was only ever partially occupied after Bass left. Vulnerable to damage and poorly maintained, fires started in 1969 and 1976, the latter resulting in major damage to three of the malthouses.[1][5] Some of the space was used for chicken-rearing by G. W. Padley (Property) Ltd. from 1973 into the 1990s.[6]

The maltings from the south

A regeneration scheme was announced in 2004; supported by the Phoenix Trust, the maltings would be converted into residential, retail and business space.[7] Public consultation took place in 2005 and 2006, with around 90% of participants supporting regeneration and three-quarters asking for a cinema and entertainment complex.[8][9] Lincolnshire Enterprise granted £200,000 towards the regeneration scheme[10] and the Gladedale Group came forward to develop the project.[11] Over the next three years, they worked with the Prince's Regeneration Trust to draw up plans for the site's regeneration which protected the historic exterior.[6] In 2009, their proposals were submitted for planning permission.[6] North Kesteven District Council approved the £50 million development in 2011;[12] Tesco was also granted permission to build a £20 million supermarket as part of the redevelopment.[13] The maltings would be converted into retail and office space, alongside 220 apartments.[12]

However, in 2012, Sleaford Town Council refused to grant permission for a link road connecting Boston Road to the site because of "concerns about closing a level crossing and the loss of trees" at the Boston Road Recreation Ground.[14] After a lengthy stalemate, the District Council served a compulsory purchase order on the site in 2014,[15] but Tesco announced early the following year that it would no longer be investing in the maltings complex following a series of financial setbacks to the company.[13] Although Gladedale (by then known as Avant Homes)[16] announced its commitment to converting parts of the site to residential use, the leader of North Kesteven District Council, Marion Brighton, stated that the plans were "effectively on hold" following the withdrawal of Tesco.[17]