Hare and Hounds pub, Bradford

Pub demolished after being condemned as unsafe:

A very beautiful pub that was in the process of restoration had a section 78 notice served, requiring the structure to be demolished without delay for safety reasons, without recourse to the planning authority.

This is very powerful legislation taken from the Building Act 1984, as it allows for the legal demolition of any structure (including listed buildings, of which this pub was one) without planning consent, to render a site safe. When it comes to old buildings, there are invariably structural issues that can be interpreted as a safety issue. The local authority has to use this section of the act cautiously, and be aware of any exploitation.