Homeowner fined for work on listed building » Local Government » 24dash.com

A homeowner who cut through original brickwork and cornicing in a Grade II* listed house has been fined £10,000 after Westminster City Council successfully prosecuted him for breaching planning laws.

The 250-year-old property in Charles Street, Mayfair, had historic features such as dado panelling and cornicing which homeowner Andrew Cecil damaged during renovation works. He also made substantial alterations to interior walls of the building without planning consent.

The Grade II* building was built around 1750-53 by John Phillips in partnership with George Shakespeare, on the Berkeley Estate. Only eight per cent of listed buildings in Great Britain are given GradeII* or Grade I status.

City of Westminster Magistrates Court heard that Mr Cecil carried out the interior alterations without listed building consent in 2005 as required by law. As well as issuing the fine magistrates also ordered him to pay Westminster Council's legal costs amounting to more than £6,000. 

Mr Cecil pleaded guilty, and in mitigation his defence told the court he was a passionate advocate of the conservation of listed buildings, and was a prominent figure in the fight to save the Regent’s Palace Hotel.

Rosemarie MacQueen, Director of Planning and City Development, said: “Westminster council has a duty to protect and preserve the rich and unique heritage within the city, and we have more than 11,000 listed buildings to safeguard. I hope this case acts as a warning to budding property developers and home-owners who may be tempted to flout the law. 

“Our planning department is only too happy to offer advice and guidance to homeowners considering carrying out alterations, and we much prefer to spend time helping them before they carry out work rather than having to prosecute afterwards if they do it without the relevant consents." 

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