A former Warwick customs house which dated back to the 19th century has been demolished without permission, an application to the council has revealed.

Retrospective permission for the flattening of Spring Cottage on Birmingham Road is now being sought from Warwick District Council following the works.

A letter to the local authority from Studio Spicer Architects on behalf of the applicants said the demolition had to take place "due to urgent and compelling circumstances".

"The building had sustained irreversible damage prior to our client purchasing the site and was in a dilapidated state," the letter claimed. 

"The extent of deterioration had made restoration economically unfeasible. 

"Significant structural instability and extensive damage had rendered the building unsafe and uninhabitable over the past few years, raising concerns about the potential for whole or partial collapse."

The application said there had been multiple break ins at the site (image via planning application)

The letter says there were signs of multiple break-ins at the canalside building and said there were public safety concerns.

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Hoardings around the site were not effective in keeping people out and the building was flattened to "eliminate the immediate hazards".

The letter continued: "It is of course regretful that the proper channels for obtaining prior approval were not followed, although the decision does seem to have been driven by an overriding need to protect public safety."

Permission to demolish the cottage and replace it with five new homes was granted in 2015 but the permission has since expired.

See the full application here.