Yesterday, John Evetts of Middle Hill Farm, Saintbury, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to undertaking unauthorised works to a Grade II listed building.

The case before Gloucester Crown Court was heard in Winchester Crown Court.

Mr Evetts received a 12-month conditional discharge and is required to complete the outstanding works within this time.

He was also ordered to contribute £6,000 towards Cotswold District Council's costs and pay a victim surcharge of £22.

Between July 2020 and December 2021, Mr Evetts undertook a wide range of works to Middle Hill Farm farmhouse without consent from Cotswold District Council.

The farmhouse is a Grade II listed building dating mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries and falls within both the Saintbury Conservation Area and Cotswolds Area of Outstanding National Beauty.

Listed buildings are considered nationally important and therefore have extra legal protection within the planning system. It is an offence, under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to undertake work that affects the character of a listed building of special architectural or historic interest.

Mr Evetts started work before gaining planning consent and then ignored the advice of the council that such alterations would not be suitable under planning law.

He also failed to provide the requested information to allow the council to properly assess the work and continued despite being aware the work was illegal.

Following a complaint from a local resident that resulted in further investigation, Mr Evetts continued to make changes despite being requested to stop.

Cllr Juliet Layton, cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said: "Listed building status exists to protect buildings of significant historic and architectural value.

"We have many listed buildings across the Cotswolds and our planning team is happy to work positively with anyone who owns one and wants to make changes. Listed building status does not mean no work can take place, but it needs to be done in the right way to protect those buildings.

"In this case, we have seen someone who has not only undertaken illegal work on a listed building but ignored the advice of specialists and the authorities. We will continue to enforce breaches in planning law across the district to protect our unique heritage and preserve it for future generations."

The prosecution was brought by Cotswold District Council's planning enforcement team with assistance from both the council's counter fraud and enforcement unit (CFEU) and legal service.