A DEVELOPER pulled down one of Britain's most historic Victorian greenhouses without planning permission - and has now been ordered to rebuild it "piece by piece" or face prosecution.

Your Worcester News can today lift the lid on an extraordinary row over 19th century Heron Lodge which has dismayed national heritage watchdogs, angered civic campaigners and left a private developer thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Back in November 2012 Worcester City Council approved a plan to convert the Grade II listed main building, off London Road, into four luxury homes.

It came with a strict condition that the historic attached greenhouse, known as an 'orangery' and believed to be one of last original ones still standing in Britain, must be repaired and restored to its former glories.

But after getting on-site developers found asbestos underneath the structure, and after removing it said the greenhouse was "practically falling down".

After it was reduced to rubble the developers then submitted a retrospective planning application for demolition of the greenhouse, which the city council refused.

The council has now demanded that developer Richard Rosebourne rebuild the entire orangery piece by piece, saying unless it is "top quality" court action will follow.

Heron Lodge dates back to 1823 and the orangery is believed to date back to around that time, although it was not protected.

Mr Rosebourne says the entire saga now threatens to make his venture a loss-making one after pouring huge sums of money into the project.

He also disputes the historic merits of the orangery, and says he believes it may not date back as far as the house itself.

He also told your Worcester News he felt he was being criticised unfairly.

Heron Lodge was built as one of a group of villas along London Road for Rear Admiral Herbert Brace Powell, who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

At the time orangeries were forerunners to today's conservatories, and were often used by rich people to grow exotic fruits.

Phil Douce, vice-chairman of Worcester Civic Society, said: "We are very, very worried about what's gone on and want answers.

"The city council should be putting a stop to the work. Considerable damage has been done and it's just not acceptable."

The row has also caught the attention of councillors, who have called it "vandalism".

Councillor Jabba Riaz, who represents the area, said: "Nationally, this was one of the last greenhouses of its age in the country - at the time it was built it was revolutionary.

"There should be uproar over this."

The retrospective bid to demolish it was made in July, but was refused in September after English Heritage called it a "status symbol".

The Victorian Society, which was also consulted, said demolition would be "harmful" to the Conservation Area it sits in and was "not justified".

But by that stage it was already a pile of rubble.

Mr Rosebourne, from developer Heron Homes, told your Worcester News he has appointed a "greenhouse expert" currently doing work for the Royal family to rebuild it.

"The greenhouse was falling down, it was rotting and in a terrible state," he said.

"It was taken down and put to one side, yes, but it wasn't demolished - it was practically falling apart.

"It's costing us a fortune but we are putting in plans for a new one."

He added: “The greenhouse was never listed, it was rotten all the way through and had been left that way for a number of years.

“It wasn’t a ‘made to order’ one either, it was literally bought off the shelf. When we got into Heron Lodge we didn’t know the greenhouse was in that bad a state.

“As soon as we took the brackets off (to deal with the asbestos) it started to fall down, it was just a greenhouse. I don’t think it had real historical merit.”

He said the entire development had already gone £100,000 over budget but he was willing to comply with the council wishes and replace it.

“Heron Lodge is beautiful and we are doing the best possible,” he said.

“I love restoring houses, that’s what I do.”

Paul O'Connor, head of planning at the city council, said: "We are in the process of ensuring an historically accurate replacement is put in its place.

"If that doesn't happen we will prosecute. But this is a high-profile enforcement case for us and we are working with the developer on it.

“The orangery was build for the exotic fruits of the day, it was vogue at the time. For us, this is chance to get a like-for-like replacement and we are asking (the developer) to provide top quality.

“They recognise what happened, should not have happened. But the developer is committed to the work and has a Conservation expert working on plans for a replacement.”

The homes on Heron Lodge are on track to be complete by January.

The first property has already gone up for sale with estate agents Alan Morris, priced at £750,000.