A £1.25 million 18th century home in Balsall Common which was destroyed by a fire can now be demolished following a council decision.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) planners said planning permission was not needed for the works following the blaze in May 2023.

The incident saw eight crews called to the scene on Holly Lane to extinguish the fire.

An application submitted to SMBC said demolition was vital "due to significant health and safety concerns".

"The current remnants of the fire-damaged structure are structurally unsound and pose an immediate risk to public safety," it said. 

The building on Holly Lane will now be demolished (image via Kenilworth Fire Station)

"Ongoing exposure to weather and damage caused by the fire has further weakened the structure, making it highly susceptible to collapse. 

"Due to its condition, the site has become a significant hazard, and it is imperative that the structure is levelled to ground level as soon as possible to eliminate the risk of injury.

"In addition, the site has been subject to regular unauthorised access, despite efforts to secure the area. 

"This unauthorised access poses a serious risk, especially given the unsafe state of the remaining building. 

"The safety of the public cannot be guaranteed while the structure remains in its current state. Immediate demolition is necessary to mitigate these risks."

The application says the six-bedroom home - which was vacant at the time of the fire - was subject to an arson attack.

Prior to the incident the building had been marketed for £1.25m.

Council planners last week gave the go ahead to the works.