Illegally destroyed pub still not rebuilt after 5 years

26-Feb-2020 - Last updated on 26-Feb-2020 at 16:13 GMT

Works ongoing: rebuilding the pub started in 2017 and is still not finished

The battle to rebuild iconic London pub the Carlton Tavern is still not over as the building work is taking place, five years after it was knocked down.

The Morning Advertiser reported in February last year there were hopes for the rebuilding to have been complete by April 2019, however, the council was considering taking further action because it was not within the two years as stated in its enforcement notice.

In 2016, Westminster City Council won its battle to have the Carlton Tavern in Kilburn, north-west London, rebuilt after developer CTLX reduced it to rubble in April 2015 without planning permission.

Evidence heard

The five-day enquiry took place in May 2016, after the developers tried to fight an enforcement order the council originally placed on it to rebuild the pub – with evidence heard from local campaign groups, residents, councillors and Historic England.

The planning inspector dismissed the appeals lodged by the developers and ruled in favour of the council, giving CLTX two years to rebuild the pub.

At the time, the council said the pub was being considered for Grade II-listing and the inspector agreed it was “highly likely it would have been listed had it not been demolished”.

The council served an enforcement notice to the developers, requiring the rebuilding of the community pub “brick by brick”.

Nearly completion

Work began in the pub in August 2017 but is still not complete with the council hoping it will reopen soon.

Commenting on the case at present, Westminster City cabinet member for business and planning Matthew Green said: “The Carlton Tavern is nearing completion with works still ongoing.

“We are determined the pub will be rebuilt brick by brick and although, at times progress has been slow, we are closely monitoring reconstruction and are happy with the quality of the work to date.”