Takeaway Owner Fined For Illegally Modifying Listed Building

A takeaway owner was fined over £1300 for installing security shutters, lit-up signs and a projector onto the front of a listed building in Bassetlaw, igniting the debate about how best to handle listed building restoration and protect Britain’s architectural heritage.

Davod Mazidi pled guilty to modifying number 10 Bridgegate, a Grade II listed building in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire. As a result, he was forced to pay £64 for failing to comply with the notice, along with a £34 victim surcharge, as well as £1,275.44 in legal fees.

The problems began for Mr Mazidi when he was contacted by Bassetlaw planning authorities on 13th May 2019. He had installed a projecting sign, an illuminating fascia and security shutters to the front of the listed building he had planned to turn into a takeaway.

They warned him that the building was listed and that the installations he had made were done without the necessary consent from the local planning authority, Historic England and other local heritage groups as required.

This is a legal requirement and if consent is not sought out it can be a criminal offence. Mr Mazidi was then issued with an enforcement notice that required him to restore the listed building’s features by 1st November of that year.

This meant that he would have to remove the shutters, new sign and new fascia, replace the original timber board and repaint the shop front.

After two further inspections on 13th May 2020 and 12th August 2020, Mr Mazidi had still yet failed to comply with the listed building consent notice and was charged for a breach of the Planning Act 1990.

As of the final hearing date, the remedial works required had still not been completed and failed to meet the standard required in the enforcement notice.

Whilst in some cases listed buildings can be altered with consent if there is an urgent health or safety need, this was not the case here.