Israeli developers who demolished a historic London pub without permission could be forced to rebuild it brick by brick.
Tel Aviv-based tax lawyer Ori Calif is director of CLTX Ltd, the company which owns the Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale, north London.
The building was knocked down earlier this month ahead of potential redevelopment of the site.
But a local authority is expected to issue an enforcement notice next week ordering the owners to rebuild the 1920s pub and barring its sale until the work is completed.
A report on Wednesday to Westminster Council’s planning committee from its planning director John Walker said: “An asset which was a listable heritage asset has been demolished in breach of planning control.
“In these circumstances it is not considered that other lesser steps are possible to address the harm other than to require complete rebuilding.”
The expected enforcement notice will order the owners to “recreate in facsimile the building as it stood immediately prior to its demolition”.
Robert Davis, deputy council leader, said he was “absolutely horrified” at the “scandalous” destruction.
It is thought this is the first time a local council has ordered a building to be reconstructed from the ground up.
Westminster rejected a planning application to replace the red brick pub with flats in January, but on April 8 bulldozers moved in to the shock and outrage of local residents.
One resident leading a community campaign against the demolition is Israeli Londoner Polly Amos Robertson.
She said: “It is a massive achievement for us and it is what we wanted, a demand to rebuild the pub.
“It shows people cannot just come and bulldoze a building because it might make them money. The community here loved it and more importantly the owners did not have permission in the first place.”
CLTX is appealing the decision and if it wins the company may be able to continue with the redevelopment of the site.
Mr Calif was not available for comment.
