Planning Inspector Rules Council ‘Unreasonable’ Over Green Pub Tiles

Brighton & Hove City Council has been told it acted unreasonably in refusing a developer permission to remove the green tiles from the Montreal Arms pub before restoring them. The council will have to pay the legal costs of the appeal. The Montreal Arms, a Victorian-era pub in Hanover, Brighton, is famous for its green-glazed […]

Brighton & Hove City Council has been told it acted unreasonably in refusing a developer permission to remove the green tiles from the Montreal Arms pub before restoring them. The council will have to pay the legal costs of the appeal.

The Montreal Arms, a Victorian-era pub in Hanover, Brighton, is famous for its green-glazed ceramic tiles. The owner, Charlie Southall, removed some tiles without permission in 2022, prompting the council to issue enforcement orders demanding they be replaced.

Southall appealed to have all remaining tiles removed before a full renovation. Planning Inspector Paul Burley agreed, ruling that the council had repeatedly asked for more information but never clearly explained why the information provided was insufficient.

Burley said the tiles are part of a non-designated heritage asset, but the harm from their temporary removal is small, and renovating the building will help secure its long-term future. The inspector also noted that the council’s concerns about past tile removal or Southall’s motives were irrelevant to the planning decision.

The ruling highlights the importance of clear guidance from councils in planning applications and shows that preserving a building’s future can sometimes outweigh minor heritage concerns.