Insider Media Limited

Permission to demolish Birmingham's Christopher Wray building has been refused by the city council's planning committee.

The Grade II building, situated on 7-12 Bartholomew Row in the city, had been the subject of a planning application requesting to tear the building down.

But Birmingham City Council's planning committee agreed with officers' recommendations to refuse planning permission after several objections were received.

An application for its demolition was submitted by planning agent Donald Insall Associates. There was no application for redevelopment of the site.

Objections were received from The Victorian Society, English Heritage and Save Britain's Heritage.

English Heritage complained about the proposal on the grounds that the land was being sold off at too cheap a price, and said the demolition would "result in the total loss of the heritage asset's significance".

The Victorian Society agreed, stating: "Many such buildings have disappeared from across the city, and where these historic industrial buildings have been identified presumption should be in favour of retention and conservation".

Councillors agreed that the Planning for the Historic Environment criteria had not been met.

An officer's statement added: "I would concur with English Heritage that the property should be remarketed at a more appropriate asking price, by a firm of local agents who understand the Birmingham property market and probably for a period in excess of six months due to the poor state of the property market."