Westminster Council is planning to take enforcement action against Israeli developer Ori Calif's CLTX Ltd after it demolished a 1920s pub without permission days before a decision was due to be made on listing it Grade II as a heritage asset.
 
Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster council, said he was "absolutely horrified" at the "scandalous" destruction.
 
A spokeswoman for Historic England, previously English Heritage, said there were plans to recommend the pub be given a grade II listing pending approval from the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
 
She added that Carlton Tavern built in 1920-21 for Charrington & Co, probably by Frank J Potter, was an early inter-war improved public house, carefully detailed and built of good quality materials, showing the vision of a leading London brewery.
 
It was laid out as an improved pub with a public bar, and originally off sales, a saloon, and unusually a luncheon and tea room. The site was well-preserved externally and internally, it displayed the hierarchy of rooms in their fixtures, fittings and decorative treatment and retained all its external signage.
 
CLTX Ltd is said to be appealing the decision.