A BURNLEY business has been fined for carrying out unauthorised alterations to a listed building.

Burnley Estates was fined a total of £750 and ordered to pay £175 at Reedley Magistrates Court after it pleaded guilty to two offences of unauthorised works to number nine Hammerton Street.

The company owns the town centre building but work that changed the appearance of the building was carried out without permission from Burnley Council.

Buildings are listed by local authorities because of architectural interest, historical interest or their close historical association with nationally important people or events.

If unauthorised work is carried out on a listed building, councils can serve a Listed Building Enforcement Notice requiring the building to be returned to its former condition.

A large external ducting system, an illuminated sign and non-illuminated signs were installed at the Hammerton Street building without Listed Building Consent.

Burnley Borough Council issued an enforcement notice to have the works removed.

An appeal was lodged to the Department of Local Government and the Regions, but was subsequently dismissed.

The non-illuminated signs were removed, but the other works remained.

That refusal to comply with the enforcement order meant the company was prosecuted.

Hammerton Street has been transformed by conservation work in recent years and has become one of Burnley's best loved streets.

The building work was recognised by a national award which was presented to the council last year.

Councillor David Halsall, chair of the development control committee, said: "The council has recently carried out an award winning re-development scheme on Hammerton Street and the unauthorised works to a building with significant historical interest, detracted from the quality of that scheme and from the character of the building itself.

"Owners of listed buildings have a responsibility to ensure that any works carried out are in keeping with the building and receive the necessary consent."