The owners of a listed building have been told to remove new modern roof tiles and replace them with handmade ones matching the originals.
Ahmed El-Alwal bought 11 Grand Avenue in 2017, and Google Streetview images from the time show the roof was in disrepair.
The following year, the whole roof was retiled – but Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning department has since discovered the new tiles were installed without permission on the Grade II* listed building.
It has now given Mr El-Alwal until 10 May to reinstate handmade tiles matching the material, shape, colours and finish of the tiles that were there before.
Mr El-Alwal was given planning permission to reinstate and repair windows at the rear of the house last summer.
The successful planning application was to restore windows at the front and replace three non-original external doors to the rear with windows.
The doors, on the first and second floors, were built to give access to a fire escape which was removed several years ago.
The application said removal of the doors, which after the fire escape opened out onto thin air, was itself the result of a council enforcement procedure.
The application said: “The proposed renovations are essential to securing the longitity of this listed building. The removal of non original doorways will enhance this listed building.”
The red brick house was designed by A Faulkner and built by William Willett between 1900 and 1903.
The English Heritage listing says it was built in the Surrey vernacular style, with minor alterations made in the late 20th century.
The deadline given by the council to reinstate the tiles under the Section 38 Listed Building Notice is 10 May.
What a waste of council time and money.
um, y’may wish to reassign the address over into hove
– as it’s grand avenue, innit…
cheers
ah, done
(or did i dream. it?)…
With a stark horrible modern lamppost outside, changing roof tiles are hardly going make a difference to the ruined street scene!
The council approves ugly tower block flats, despite local objections, then wastes taxpayers’ time and money on this.
The newer tiles are very energy efficient. The handmade replacements are not. Subjective aesthetics triumphs over carbon saving in Hove yet again. Counterintuitive when insulating homes s so topical.
Nobody insulates a roof with roof tiles.
Good. The history is being ripped out of Brighton & Hove, and being replaced by hideous modern, ugly constructions. This is a listed building, but he probably thought he’d get away with it. If he does, everyone else who has no respect for history and beauty, will do the same.
The council are right here. Why do some people think that they can just do what they like ? This man bought a beautiful listed building then changed it as he wanted not as the building deserves. I’m glad to hear that the planning department are being robust in this case.
👏
100% agree with council on this one – we should be protecting our architectural heritage.
It is a grade 2 list building and the owner was cavalier in ripping off the original roof tiles.
What about the building next door but one they have redland 49 tiles they are not in keeping to the rest of the buildings are you going to enforce them to remove them and replace with hand made tile or is this just a power trip by the council because someone has complained who has influence with the council???
Council Bullying Careful Property Owners again!😮
Another Ahmed el…
And your point Derek.