A government-appointed Planning Inspector has upheld an enforcement notice served on the owner of the Montreal Arms, which was issued to prevent the removal of tiles from the façade of the pub in Hanover.
The owner, Charlie Southall, must now comply with the notice which stated that removal of the green glazed ceramic tiles without permission must stop. It requires him to reinstate the tiles where they had been removed or damaged by the unauthorised work. He now has a year to comply with the requirements of the notice.
When concerns were raised by residents about the removal of tiles from the pub on 29 March 2022, Council Officers served a Temporary Stop Notice the next day.
Following discussions with the owner and his representatives, Brighton & Hove City Council then issued the Enforcement Notice and Stop Notice on 20 April as the temporary notice expired.
The Montreal Arms is included in the city council’s locally listed buildings register, which means it has been identified as a heritage asset that is important to the local area and its community.
Councillor Liz Loughran, Chair of the Planning Committee, said; “I am very pleased that the Inspector has backed the prompt actions taken by our Planning team to protect this historic building.
“The Inspector rightly recognised that the tiles are an important part of the character of the Montreal Arms and made a significant contribution to the character of the building. The damage to the tiles has caused a great deal of upset for many in the local community.
“Brighton & Hove has unique historic buildings and we are committed to protecting them by taking swift and effective action against unauthorised building work. This is a great example of how we will take enforcement action to protect our city’s heritage.”
