Building owners appeal over demolition-stop order

The owners of a building that was demolished without planning permission have appealed against an order to stop further work.

The demolition of 34-36 Earlsdon Street, in the Earlsdon conservation area of Coventry, was taking place until the city council served a temporary stop notice in January.

On the order, the city council said "unauthorised development and/or demolition" had been carried out.

According to the notice, the building is partly owned by Rois Ali, a former councillor in Coventry, who has been contacted for comment.

The city council confirmed to the BBC that the owners had appealed against the order and said it was awaiting further information from the planning inspectorate.

The site, once home to a branch of NatWest, is in the conservation area, first designated two years ago.

This means any demolition work must have special conservation planning permission, while other changes that might usually be allowed might also need approval.

Plans for a second storey over an extension at the back of the building were approved on appeal last year, but nothing in the documents for the scheme referred to demolition work at the front.

The stop notice said the building was a "prominent" part of the street and planning permission had not been given for the "substantial" work so far.

Scaffolding and hoardings currently cover the front of the site, concealing where the first floor used to be before the work started.

People on social media called the demolition "disgraceful" and "beyond appalling", with some calling for the property to be rebuilt brick by brick.

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