Outcry over bid to demolish home
Residents in a Midlands village have called for a large Victorian house, which is under threat of demolition, to be saved and officially listed by English Heritage as a building of interest.
Residents in a Midlands village have called for a large Victorian house, which is under threat of demolition, to be saved and officially listed by English Heritage as a building of interest.
Developers Heritage Oak Developments want to demolish the large old property, known as Little Champson, at Roxall Close, Blakedown, near Kidderminster, to make way for two five-bedroomed homes to be built on the site. But neighbours and parish councillors have caused an outcry.
They claim it would be a "desecration of the heritage of the area" if the building was demolished.
They claim the property is one of Blakedown's oldest buildings, having been constructed around 1800, and that it has many fine architectural features including a terrace and balustrade.
These are recognisable despite an extension being constructed in the 1960s.
Villagers claim they "could not countenance" the destruction of such a lovely old building that formed part of the heritage of the village and have called for it to be saved.
Members of Wyre Forest District Council planning and development control committee have cleared the path for the building to be saved by refusing an application for planning permission for two new homes on the site.
They said the homes would be out of scale and result in over-development of the site.
They also say the proposed development would result in an unacceptable loss of amenities for neighbouring properties.
But it could be several weeks before officials with English Heritage decide whether or not the building should be preserved and added to the Listed Buildings Register.
Villager Mrs Penny Carlton said: "One of our keenest concerns is that we could be losing a very beautiful building in a village that now has many box-like buildings.
"Our second concern is that we are not happy that two large executive homes could be built and that these would detract from the street-scene.
"Some neighbours in Linwood Drive would lose their privacy.
"Although it is rundown, the shell of the building is fine," she added.
