Listed Buildings Prosecutions Database Commentary

14 39 Cloncurry Street, Fulham Harrogate Borough Council [12-2001] Thorpe Underwood Hall, Thorpe Underwood, York, Listed Grade 2*. Listed in January 1980, a country house used as a school dated 1902-03 by W.H. Brierley for F.W. Slingsby. Red brick in English bond. Mr. Brian Richard Martin, Chairman of the Governors of Queen Ethelburga’s School was fined £6,000 with £4,000 costs at Harrogate Magistrates Court comprising £4,000 for unauthorised alterations involving the removal of a chimneybreast within the second floor roof space and £2,000 for the consequent removal of the 4m. high chimney stack, carried out in or around August 1998. As both sides had employed Barristers, the Council was also awarded £30,000 costs. (Source LPA) Harrogate Borough Council [04-2014] Copt Hewick Hall, Copt Hewick, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, Listed Grade 2. This small country house, dating from c.1775 within a designed landscape of the same era was built for Thomas Corner, twice Mayor of Ripon. Estate agents Blenkin and Co described the house prior to its sale as having period features which had been "painstakingly preserved", adding that no detail had escaped the (then) owners’ meticulous programme of works. The house was acquired for Mrs. Valeria Sykes the mother of one of the defendants, for £4.5m in December 2011. The Northern Echo reported that Mrs. Sykes' had been married to property tycoon Mr. Paul Sykes creator of Sheffield Meadowhall shopping centre. Following the purchase her son Mr. Richard Sykes had instructed and project managed the works. When an officer from Harrogate Borough Council visited the Hall after the sale, substantial alterations were noted. These included the removal of decorative mouldings, doors, window shutters, floors and ceilings without listed building consent. Historic “floating bubble” glass windows were completely lost after they were replaced with modern flat glass for clearer views. Despite repeated warnings from the Council to stop the works, the renovations continued over an 18- month period. Mr. Sykes a chartered surveyor and a director of West Parks Services Ltd; Mr. Nicholas Hull, the builder; and their respective companies West Park Services Ltd; and, Thermotech Building Maintenance Ltd, all pleaded guilty to six offences at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Tuesday 29 th April 2014.