The council is "progressing formal action" after the landlords of a grade II listed building in the centre of Warwick ripped out its interior without permission.

A damning report from Warwick District Council (WDC) at the end of December found there was "no compelling evidence" of mould or damp at the Market Place unit, despite landlord Cobalt Developments using that to justify the removal of all the shelves.

Some 45 locals objected to a retrospective application for the works, saying the shelves should be replaced at the 19th century building.

WDC then refused to approve the application for the former Brogan's Irish Bar in December.

In a statement to Nub News this week, the local authority said enforcement action is being taken.

"Unauthorised works to a listed building are a criminal matter," it said.

"The council are aware of this offence and are currently progressing formal action."

Photographs showing the historic shelves before they were removed (image via planning application)

WDC could not comment further on the particular case.

In its application last year, Cobalt claimed mould and damp were found behind the shelves meaning they had to be removed.

But in its assessment of the plans, WDC said: "No compelling evidence has been provided of the existence of widespread damp or mould to such a level that immediate removal of the fixtures was necessary nor that their removal would result in complete lack of reuse or reinstatement.

"The surveyor's report was conducted six months following the removal of the shelves therefore the extensive and extreme damp and mould should have persisted or remained evident as no remedial works have been undertaken. 

"The shelves themselves were not the source of moisture so their removal should have had no impact beyond further revealing the issues. 

"There is no photographic evidence of the damage to the shelving from the damp and moisture either with the shelves in situ or once the shelves had been removed, with no rot or damage being apparent in the photographic schedule provided in the heritage statement."

A photograph showing inside the building after the works (image via planning application)

As well as many residents, Warwick Town Council also objected to the application and said the shelves should be replaced.

"The works completed on this property in terms of removal of shop fittings and shelving have not been carried out sympathetically, and negatively affect the character of this property as a building of special historic interest," the objection said. 

"The works do not constitute repairs and have resulted in the loss of important historic fabric from a listed building."

The unit was put on the market since early 2024 with Cobalt also removing all the bar equipment.