Demolition is under way on the historic Albert Row in Dockyard.

The work being carried out by ABC Construction is expected to be completed in three weeks. The site will then be grassed over.

Andrew Dias, general manager of the West End Development Company which owns the recently delisted building, said: “It’s regrettable that we couldn’t find a solution that would be viable nor could we find a business partner that was willing to invest.

“This was not taken lightly which is why it took almost ten years to make the decision.”

Mr Dias told The Royal Gazette it would have cost in the region of $10m to salvage the building, adding: “We needed monetary investment – it was not financially viable for Wedco to take on.”

Work on the removal of asbestos in preparation for the demolition began in November. Mr Dias said work at the site had been continuous since then although it slowed during the Christmas period.

While Wedco had been inviting developers to take on the site, Mr Dias said there are no plans for its future.

“The actual demolition is expected to take three weeks and then site remediation and putting in grass will likely see it take another few weeks.

“Final site completion expected before the end of February.

“There is no plan, we have not looked at what happens next.”

Albert Row, on Malabar Road, Ireland Island, Sandys, housed tradesmen when the Dockyard was a major industrial complex that supported Royal Navy operations in the region.

The building was erected in the 1840s and was Grade 2-listed in 2000 for “special interest and architectural and historical value”.

The last residents moved out in 2014 and the buildings deteriorated. Last September, after years of debate about its future, Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, removed it from the list of protected buildings.

Ann Coates, the chairwoman of the UK-based Naval Dockyards Society, said at the time she was “deeply disturbed” by the decision to delist the building, which she claimed went against advice from Bermuda professionals and organisations.

Government said that the decision to allow demolition was taken after “comprehensive consultation” and that three objections to the proposal were examined.

Neighbouring Victoria Row was demolished in 2016, but Albert Row remained standing and derelict.