Developer Fined £2000 Plus Costs For Damaging Listed Building

The firm of property developers have been convicted and fined by magistrates.

The council prosecuted Carrington Sears Ltd after it carried out unlawful works to The Montague Arms, one of the borough's oldest buildings.

The Montague Arms in Medfield Street is a former public house and Grade II Listed building. Parts of it date back to the 17 th Century.

Yet despite its historic value and importance, Carrington Sears gutted the building's interior and removed many of its unique fixtures and fittings – including original doors, door casings, walls, a staircase, panelling and timber beam cladding.

This work was carried out without any kind of planning approval. The company had not sought any planning permissions or listed building consent, and none had been granted.

In court, company director Abdul Khan pleaded guilty to an offence under the Planning ( Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and was fined £2,000. The company was also ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council's prosecution costs.

The planning department has also issued a listed building enforcement notice requiring the developer to put back all the fixtures and fittings that were removed. The Bethnal Green-based company must also repair and reinstate the external fascia boards on the front of the pub, as well as the former bar on the ground floor, along with all its associated joinery and cupboards. Failure to comply with the notice would render the developers liable to further prosecution.

Planning applications chairman Cllr Leslie McDonnell said:
"It is a criminal offence to carry out any works on a listed building without listed building consent. The Montague Arms is a very important historic building that has been a central focal point in Roehampton for centuries. It is totally unacceptable for a developer to start interfering with a listed building in this way without any kind of consent or permission."

The enforcement notice has been issued under Section 38 of the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservations Areas) Act 1990 and gives Carrington Sears Ltd a deadline of the middle of July by which time these remedial works must be completed.

March 30, 2009