Demolished Pub Order To Be Rebuilt

[Flyfisher]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/developer-told-to-rebuild-maida-vale-pub-brick-by-brick-after-site-torn-down-without-notice-10211892.html

Although the judgement accepts that the replacement will only be a 'facsimile' of the original history, I reckon it's a fitting punishment for the developer rather than a nominal fine.

Let's hope it sends the intended message to other developers.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Ha ha, it will never happen.

 

[mims&pip]

Let's hope so Flyfisher, but I have my doubts

When we lived down on the South Coast we had an extremely wealthy neighbour who was a property developer* with his own estate agents business.

He bought a beautiful old Grade 2 listed c1900 (described on EH as 'Neo-Tudor-Jacobean') pub in a less than desirable part of town and put in plans to demolish it and replace with a block of flats. I'm not sure of the details, but AFAIK his plans were turned down. He already had a team in doing something though and next thing you know it went up in smoke......or at least a fire broke out. Fortunately - but not for our neighbour - the building was saved and whilst he did get LBC/planning permission to convert to flats, he had to retain the building (externally at least - I've not been inside) as it was originally built......

Apparently claims of arson were investigated - newspaper reports stated that "Three oxyacetylene cylinders were found in the three-storey building" - but as we were in the process of relocating at the time, I never discovered the outcome - although I guess he got away with it :roll:

* He was also a notorious drug baron and not to be messed with - even our burly builders were terrified of him :shock:

 

[Flyfisher]

I know what you mean.

We can only hope that Westminster Council is as stubborn and unreceptive to any arguments and appeals as they were when one their lovely traffic wardens ticketed my perfectly legally parked car one Sunday afternoon many years ago. Despite photos and police witnesses they steadfastly refused to acknowledge my case and simply replied each time with an irrelevant 'form letter'. After about six months, the case came before the London parking tribunal and WC didn't even bother to attend. Within about 5 minutes of reading my many letters to WC, the tribunal cancelled the parking ticket. I could claim no costs and there was no penalty for the 'error', so I can understand - though not condone - why WC behaved the way they did, especially since the ticket encouraged me to pay up within 14 days otherwise the fine would be doubled. B******s!

Hopefully, they'll give this particular developer the same sort of run around!

 

[Spoilt Victorian Child]

Ha ha, it will never happen.

Why do you think it won't happen?

I too think this is much better than a fine, and sends out the right message too.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I imagine that there will be appeal after appeal, and the process will be hugely lengthy and expensive. If it does get rebuilt I predict it will be a very poor second rate version of what was there before with no attention to detail as the developers don't want to rebuild it, and the council can't have someone on site full time demanding it be built properly. Perhaps Westminster council have a different attitude, are more stubborn and better resourced than the council where i live, but I can't see this going anywhere.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I have real doubts about the enforceability of this, particularly against a Tel Aviv based company which is in the process of being wound up and apparently has assets in the low hundreds of pounds. It's also dependent on the Minister confirming that the building would have been listed had it not been demolished.
As it stands it's a technical breach of planning regulations, and a certain breach of H and S law, but not a breach of any conservation legislation which might have the teeth to require a rebuild.

 

[Flyfisher]

Here's another example (which also mentions the Tel Aviv company case), this time in Clapham, London : http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/23/alchemist-pub-demolished-rebuilt-wandsworth-council_n_7855262.html?1437650940

Are councils getting tougher or are these just the tip of a generally unreported iceberg?