A DEVELOPER has been ordered to pull down a large brick building that has been put up illegally on the outskirts of Worcester.

No planning permission has been given for the building, which is on land just off Bransford Court Lane, Bransford, near Worcester.

David Murray, development control manager at Malvern Hills District Council, said: "We have taken issue with the new building work.

"We are concerned about the nature and scale of the building. The council has issued an enforcement notice. The notice requires the demolition of the building and the removal of the bricks and concrete blocks away from the site.

"The notice takes effect on August 14 and the developer has to comply with it within eight weeks of that date.

"My experience of such a notice is that it's common for people to lodge an appeal."

Architect Marcus Cleaver, who is the agent for the developer, Larry Carter of Magdala Court, The Butts, Worcester, said: "Mr Carter has stopped work on it and we are waiting to negotiate with the council to put in an application."

Mr Cleaver added that his client does have permission to carry out development at the site but not specifically for this particular building.

Retired hospital consultant Dr John Popert, aged 81, who lives next to the site, said: "As long as the building comes down eventually I'm happy.

"The building blocks the light from our upstairs windows."

The Worcester News reported earlier this month that part of the development on the site saw the start of the demolition of a Second World War pillbox.

Dr Popert described this as `wicked'.

The pillbox is a brick and concrete single-storey structure around 18ft by 18ft, which, in the event of an invasion by the Germans, would have allowed troops to fire at the enemy through loopholes.

Mr Cleaver added: "It is not listed and it is a pretty useless warren. It's been partially demolished."