COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Builders told to stop unauthorised demolition work



Builders have been forced to stop work on a row of shops in a conservation area after demolition work was carried out without permission.

The work was taking place at 34-36 Earlsdon Street in the Earlsdon suburb of Coventry.

Coventry City Council intervened by serving a temporary stop notice on Wednesday, prohibiting more work from taking place. The order lasts until late Feburary.

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

Scaffolding and hoardings currently cover 34-36 Earlsdon Street, with gaps in the scaffolding showing an empty space where the first floors should be.

It is unclear how much of the ground floors have been affected.

The stop order states the council believes there has been "unauthorised development and/or demolition" in the conservation area.

It stresses the site is prominent in the historic street and planning permission has not been given for the "substantial" work so far.

The notice is also being served to avoid further serious impacts on the protected zone, it adds.

The properties, once home to a branch of NatWest, are in the Earlsdon conservation area which was designated two years ago.

This means any demolition work must have special conservation planning permission. Other changes that might usually be allowed could 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 refers to demolition work at the front of the building.

The appeal decision also highlights that the extension would not be visible from the street.

Councillor Ant Tucker called the demolition work a "shocking and sudden development" in a social media post, external.

Sharing his response to the council, he said the works appear to "far surpass" plans for the site and called for an immediate visit by officers.

"Given the central importance of Earlsdon's high street to our community, immediate intervention is needed," he added.

A Coventry council spokesperson said: "We can confirm the works at 34-36 Earlsdon High Street did not have planning permission. As a result, our Planning Enforcement Team served a Temporary Stop Notice on 1 January 2025 and we will investigate in line with our normal procedures."

Stop notice served by council on former bank in Earlsdon



Coventry City Council has served a stop notice to prohibit further works on the site of a former Natwest bank in Earlsdon. The team served a Temporary Stop Notice following 'unauthorised demolition' at the start of January.

Since then, the local authority say they have listened to residents' concerns and worked with ward councillors to find a solution. However, the TSN is only in effect for a maximum of 56 days, with the notice expiring at midnight on Tuesday, February 25.

No valid planning application has been received for rebuilding works; the council said it was necessary to take further action to ensure that no further works happen on site until planning permission has been granted.

This is the first time in around 20 years that the council has served a Stop Notice. Legislation does not allow a further TSN. Hence, the council served a Stop Notice and Enforcement Notice to prevent further work from being undertaken.

The council's director of City Services, Andrew Walster, said: "We have been listening to residents' concerns and working with ward councillors to find a solution, but so far, we have not received any future plans from the property owners.

"This is frustrating for everyone concerned, and we are determined to find a way forward. That’s why we have taken the step of servicing a Stop Notice. The Earlsdon area was designated a conservation area, and the demolition work carried out so far has seriously impacted the neighbourhood's character."