Owners of demolished Crooked House pub launch appeal over planning enforcement notice

South Staffordshire Council has said owners of the demolished Crooked House pub in Himley have appealed against its enforcement notice, which requires the building's reconstruction.

The famously lop-sided 18th century building was demolished on 7 August, two days after a fire.

South Staffordshire then said it would investigate potential breaches of the Town and Country Planning Act and the Buildings Act.

This week the council said: “The owners had 30 days in which to appeal the [enforcement] notice and we have been advised that an appeal has now been lodged.

“We are now awaiting a date for the appeal and the appointment of a planning inspector.”

Staffordshire Police have arrested six people suspected of involvement in arson since the fire, all of whom a spokeswoman said remain on bail.

The council’s February enforcement notice was served because “the unauthorised demolition of the building resulted in the loss of a community facility of local historic significance and interest which was included in the Historic Environment Record”.

It said recipients were required within three years to “rebuild the building…so as to recreate it as similar as possible to the demolished building as it stood prior to the start of demolition on 5 August 2023, to include the original pub building and later additions of the rear-extension and toilet block”.

The notice was served on George Adam Taylor, Carly Taylor, ‘the company secretary of owner ATE Farms’ and ‘the owner of land’ at the Crooked House site.

Gary Timmins, campaigns director of the Campaign for Real Ale, said the destruction of the Crooked House had "shocked the nation and struck a chord with the public".

He added: “CAMRA is following the case of the Crooked House closely and believes accountability needs to be taken for the obliteration of the iconic pub. Systematic change to bolster planning policy is needed to avoid situations like this arising again in the future.”

ATE Farms could not be contacted.

Mark Smulian