Enforcement action ends in demolition of ‘unsafe’ Warminster property

The listed property, at 3 High Street, had been a long-standing safety concern for the past 10 years due to its declining condition and was covered by scaffolding.

The building, last used as a retail shop by the high street fashion chain Ciro Critterio, is next to Warminster’s historic 13th century St Lawrence Chapel.

Wiltshire Council’s building control team took enforcement action due to a decline in its structural integrity and the dangerous state of its scaffolding.

The property at 3 High Street, Warminster, next to the historic St Lawrence Chapel has now been demolished. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Cllr Nick Botterill, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for development management and strategic planning, said: "I’d like to praise the Building Control officers involved in seeing this case through to its conclusion.

“It has been a very challenging, time-consuming case, with the building having been an ever-increasing concern since October 2014.

"As our business plan states we have a duty to deliver professional building control services and enforce breaches of planning control in order to protect our residents.

“While we know it is disappointing for the local residents and councillors that ultimately the building has been demolished rather than restored, we had a duty to ensure that the site was made safe."

The site has been cleared following the demolition. There are plans to replace the property with a shop and housing. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

In November 2023, the property owner was served notice under Section 77 Building Act 1984, which required the immediate dangers to be mitigated.

A subsequent court order from Swindon Magistrates' Court ordered the owners to remove all the herbaceous growth from the front and side elevation.

They were also told to reinstate the plywood hoarding to the scaffold to prevent access to the scaffold and the building; remove all loose masonry from the front and side elevations; and ensure a structural assessment was undertaken by a specialist.

The owner instead elected to demolish the building, and these demolition works have now taken place.

Demolition of a listed building would usually require listed building consent, however, Section 9 (3) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 allows for emergency situations by providing a defence from potential prosecution where works are urgently required in the interests of public safety or the security of the building.

Consent for the demolition was given due to the poor condition of the building and due to there being no further safe opportunity for temporary works, scaffolding, propping or shoring that could achieve the safety of the building.