THERE are fears a 17th Century Grade II Listed house under private ownership will have to be demolished unless the council step in.
Concerns have been raised that the poor condition of 3 Trotshill East Lane in Warndon may lead it to be knocked down and replaced by modern housing.
A nearby resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said it has been left empty for years and is worried it is falling into disrepair.
The building is on Worcester's Heritage at Risk register due to its current condition.
Over the years, the wattle and daub building has had a window smashed and there have been reports of poor security and anti-social behaviour at the site.
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A fire in 2020 damaged the building further and the property has been boarded up.
Overgrown trees make the property difficult to spot for onlookers.
In 2021, work was completed to clear the undergrowth but no further progress has been made.
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Any unauthorised work taking place in a listed building is seen as a criminal offence.
A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: "No. 3 Trotshill East Lane is a grade II listed building and because of its current condition, is included on Worcester’s Heritage at Risk register.
"It is privately owned and the maintenance of the building is the sole responsibility of its owner.
"The city council is monitoring the building and will be liaising with the owner.
"It is for the owner to decide on the future of the building but, because it is listed, planning permission and listed building consent would need to be sought before any work, apart from maintenance and like-for-like repair, could be carried out.
"Any unauthorised work to, or demolition of, the building would be a criminal offence and the city council could, if necessary, take appropriate enforcement action.
"It is important that listed buildings are kept secure and are not open to the weather, so if anyone notices that this or any other listed building has broken windows or other damage that leaves it exposed to the elements, we would encourage them to contact us at planning@worcester.gov.uk".
Worcester News has attempted to contact the owner.
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