Campaigners for a pub demolished in Kilburn have won the right to have the developer’s appeals against council decisions heard by public enquiry.

Brent & Kilburn Times: The pub before it was demolished (Pic credit: Flickr/Ewan Munro)The pub before it was demolished (Pic credit: Flickr/Ewan Munro) (Image: Archant)

The Carlton Tavern, in Carlton Vale, was demolished by its owners CLTX after Westminster Council rejected its bid to redevelop the site.

Cllr Tom Crockett, Conservative councillor for Maida Vale, said: “The planning inspectorate is going to hear both the appeals by public enquiry so the lobbying has paid off and now the community will have maximum opportunity to have its say about the pub and the appeal. It’s really good news.”

The pub, which dates back to 1920, was knocked down with all its contents inside, shortly before it was due to be given a Grade II listing by historic England.

In events that stunned the community, CLTX put in an appeal against their rejected planning application two weeks after reducing the Victorian pub to rubble and insisting it be heard in secret, by written representation.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Cllr Tom Crockett at the pub siteCllr Tom Crockett at the pub site (Image: Archant)

In June the council slapped CLTX with an enforcement order to rebuild the pub ‘brick by brick’.

The 230-page enforcement document states that CLTX must build an exact replica of the pub with its “detailed architectural descriptions as to building materials, plan from, exterior and interior”.

CLTX have also appealed this once again asking for asking the appeal to be heard in secret.

Cllr Crockett added: “The council have been really supportive by representing to the planning inspectorate they wanted the appeals heard by public enquiry as well.

The community is now going to have a say. There will be an opportunity for formal representations to be made in that appeal.”

Polly Robertson, from Rebuild the Carlton Tavern, said: “It’s fantastic news. Up until today it’s been like David and Goliath so it’s the right thing for us. We can’t wait to find out a little bit more, like the date, to have time to prepare.

We know we have a huge amount of support and backing so we’re looking to have a massive turnout when it does happen.”