The owner of the Montreal Arms must replace the tiles he ripped down, a planning inspector ruled today.
Charlie Southall got his friends to tear down the Brighton pub’s distinctive green tiles in March last year after a fundraiser to convert it into a refuge failed.
Brighton and Hove City Council issued a stop notice the same day, and then an enforcement notice requiring him to reinstate the tiles, which he appealed.
He has since said the enforcement notice, together with the pub being registered as an asset of community value, has effectively wiped two thirds of its value as it is currently almost impossible to sell.
A planning inspector has now ruled he has to put them back to the same condition they were in before he took them off.
The inspector, L Douglas, said: “The glazed ceramic tiled façade of the appeal building has historically formed an important part of its character.
“The arrangement of three shades of green and lettered tiles across the ground floor façade of the building has marked it out as a former United Breweries public house, similar to other public houses previously owned by that brewery.
“The glazed ceramic tiles, even where severely weathered and damaged before the alleged breach of planning control took place, made a significant positive contribution to the character of the building and the surrounding area.
“The glazed ceramic tiled finish of the appeal building is an important feature of the non-designated heritage asset.”
“The extensive removal of tiles from the façade of the appeal building has had a substantial negative impact on the external appearance of the building.”
The report says Mr Southall appealed on several grounds, including that the notice was inadequately worded, and that requiring the tiles’ reinstatement to their original condition is excessive.
His architect also argued that because he asked friends rather than builders to remove the tiles, for health and safety and inspection reasons, the work did not constitute building operations.
The inspector dismissed the first and last grounds, but upheld the second one in part, varying the enforcement notice so Mr Southall is required to reinstate the tiles to the condition they were in when he bought the pub, rather than to match those which have survived.
He concluded: “Reports explain that the appeal building is in a poor state of repair, with water and damp ingress, live mould spores within walls, fungi and woodboring insects within structural timbers, and walls of bungaroosh construction.
“The evidence indicates that steel lintels above ground floor openings will need replacing.
“It is claimed these reports demonstrate that the entire fabric of the building requires significant upgrading or replacement, and that a complete replacement with modern building materials appears to be necessary
“Notwithstanding these challenges, they do not make it impossible for the enforcement notice to be complied with, or for its purpose to be achieved.”
The scaffolding on the pub – put up shortly after the tiles came off – was taken down last month.
Residents reported further damage to lintels and windowframes to the council, but officers inspected the site and found no evidence of this.
The inspector’s report does not give a new timescale for the tiles to be replaced. The original enforcement notice gave Mr Southall one year.
If he does not comply with the notice, Brighton and Hove City Council has the option of taking him to court. However, if he successfully applies to remove the tiles or make other changes to the building which would require their removal, that would usually supersede the enforcement notice.
“He has since said the enforcement notice, together with the pub being registered as an asset of community value, has effectively wiped two thirds of its value as it is currently almost impossible to sell.”
Laughable.
His actions and his alone are what led to the massive devaluation in the value of the property.
Why? Because he thought he could avoid paying tax on it! Haha. Cannot.Understand.Needs.Training.
Another typical example of common sense not being used by the council or inspector. Is it any wonder that good basically sound structures are left the just fall apart.
Can’t believe this so called professional builder also professional architect whom presumably provided advise regards this building thought they could get away with this vandalism made a total joke of the local planning processes allowing the situation to get to this good luck with getting the building reinstated if in deed you get there at all.
What a Right Charlie!
Cockwombles got karma now no one can use the building. It looks shabby & neglected.
The guy needs to understand the importance of our heritage it’s not some refugee home. All he wants is to avoid paying tax.
He is disrespectful and I hope he does restore the tiles.
But I think he’s going to lose to the bailiff
All this uproar over a pub that was falling down and tiles already smashed to bits. Perhaps if people drunk in the pub when it was open it would still be a pub ? No uproar when the cuthbet, the freshfield or the Hanover shut it doors hmmm wonder why that is
Hi Charlie. Possibly because the owners of those pubs didn’t try to con the community out of £85k off the back of a fake “ukrainian refugee fundraiser” before being exposed as a vexatious thug who owes many people in the city thousands in unpaid invoices, and then vandalise a locally listed building out of spite?
Charlie ? Lol wish I was I’ll be a millionaire, nah I’m just a local resident whose auntie used to run the pub and saw how much she struggled with lack of trade
Lorraine is not your aunt Charlie.
Lorraine is my auntie and again I’m not Charlie dopey
This is not news. All this fuss about a run down pub. So many pubs been closed for the benefits of last owners.
Shame you have not got the same sentiment for our West Pier and Our Wondeful Madeira Arches, cutbacks on schools, vulnerable services, all refuse services, all left to ruin by our council, Labour, Tory & Greens.
The trees that got illegally taken down near Preston Park and now building has been allowed, all profit should go back to the Brighton people (not just back handers and huge bonuses to councillors).
Lack of Social housing…
Bring us some bigger news … there has been far more destruction of our architectural heritage than the Montreal Arms.