The restored shop front
Joint owners of 142 London Road, The Plaza Fish Bar, following their conviction in the Leicester Magistrates Court in 2008 have finally reinstated a part of the historic fabric within a conservation area.
In 2003 an Enforcement Notice was issued under Planning legislation relating to major alterations to the property, which included the removal of a distinctive Edwardian Art Nouveau arched shop front with bottle green tiles and a side window which was a unique feature not only on London Road but within Leicester itself. This was replaced with a modern bright red aluminium shop front with simple glazed tiles.
These works were conducted without planning permission in the South Highfields Conservation Area.
The unauthorised shop front
The City Council had asked them to remove the unauthorised shop front and infilling of the side window, and reinstate the shop front and side window replicating the original, which was a requirement of the two Enforcement Notices.
The Owners, Mr Huseyin Kucuk of 52 Hudson Way, Edmonton, London, Mr Mehmet Durna of 181 Knighton Lane East, Leicester, and the tenant Mr Suleman Macit of 15 Bonnington Street, Leicester have worked with Leicester City Council planning office to now bring about a satisfactory conclusion.
The building works have now been completed to a high standard ensuring the Enforcement Notice has been fully complied with.
The main reason it has taken so long to complete is that the replacement glazed blocks had to be specially designed and made by hand at Charnwood Brick Limited, Shepshed.
The original shop front
A spokesperson for the Planning Enforcement Team explained:
"The City Council only issue Enforcement Notices as a last resort after all other avenues of communication and negotiation have been exhausted."
"We would encourage anybody considering making property alterations to first consult with the City Council."
"The reinstatement of the shop front and side window has worked extremely well, and the reinstatement reminds us architecturally of a bygone era, a piece of old Leicester, our heritage, which should not be forgotten and end up in a skip."
May 2010
