Builders working on an historic row of shops in Coventry have been told to stop work. The city council has intervened on the development in Earlsdon because it says it was taking place without permission.
Massive scaffolding and hoardings currently cover 34-36 Earlsdon Street and gaps in scaffolding show an empty space where the first floors should be, indicating these have been knocked down. It is unclear how much of the ground floor has been affected.
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 and other changes that may usually be allowed could also need approval.
READ MORE:
Investigation into ‘unauthorised works’ at Coventry’s Grade II listed Oak Inn
Two Coventry neighbourhoods put forward as ‘conservation areas’
Plans for a second storey over an extension at the back of the building were approved on appeal last year. But nothing in reports for the scheme refers to demolition work at the front of the building, and the appeal decision also highlights that the extension would not be visible from the street.
Gaps in scaffolding show the first floors of the Earlsdon Street buildings are missing
(Image: Earlsdon History, Conservation and Restoration via Facebook)
We could not find any recent records of planning permission for demolition at the building. Reports that the properties had been “demolished” and photos of the work were posted to a local social media page on Monday, December 30.
Commenters called it “disgraceful” and “beyond appalling” and some called for the properties to be rebuilt “brick by brick.” Councillor Ant Tucker (Lab) also called it a “shocking and sudden development” in an online post.
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.
The council stepped in on Wednesday (January 1), issuing a temporary stop notice which will last until late February. The order states the council believes there has been unauthorised development and/or demolition in the conservation area.
Numbers 34-36 Earlsdon Street, pictured in 2023
(Image: Google Maps)
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 buildings are part of a terrace of shops on Earlsdon Street, billed as the “bustling community focal point” of the conservation area. They used to house a NatWest bank branch but this closed nine years ago.
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.”