London Council begins fight with developer to rebuild historic pub brick by brick

Westminster City Council have said the Carlton Tavern must be rebuilt exactly as it used to look

The demolished Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale (Google Maps)

Campaigners are backing a London council fighting to force a property developer to rebuild a 1920s pub brick by brick they demolished.

The Carlton Tavern pub in Maida Vale was illegally demolished by developers CLTX days while it was being considered for Grade II listed status in April 2015, activists claim.

There is currently a planning inquiry taking place to decide what will happen to the pub

Activists, the Friends of Carlton Tavern, have declared their support for Westminster City Council who are pushing CLTX to rebuild the pub exactly as it used to look.

In January 2015, the council had denied the developers permission for the demolition and redevelopment of the property.

John Simmance, from the Friends of Carlton Tavern, told the Evening Standard:"Our hope is to have the pub rebuilt as it was before it was demolished and we support the decision by Westminster City Council to make CLTX do so.

"We think it can be the pub we knew and loved again. We think it can be rebuilt as it was with the materials that are available to do that. We do think that is possible.

"I was so angry when it was demolished. My first thought was we have to do something about it. So we initially painted on the hoarding saying they had destroyed our pub."

Saira Kabir Sheikh QC, speaking for Westminster City Council, told the planning inquiry: "It was a flagrant breach of planning control and building regulations with the single aim of frustrating the designation of the pub as a grade II listed building, which Historic England had confirmed it would have been very likely to recommend.

"The importance of the Carlton Tavern was properly understood by all in advance of its unlawful demolition, including the appellant.

"In addition to the heritage harm caused by the demolition, weight must also be given to the loss of a community facility, which has since been registered as an asset of community value."

CLTX have used their right to appeal to gain retrospective planning permission for their development while appealing against the order to rebuild the building. The developers also argue the pub was not listed when it was demolished.

The results of the planning inquiry are expected later this summer.

CLTX were not available to comment.