A man has been fined just £300 for illegally demolishing a listed mansion house in Dunfermline, Scotland, prompting fears that other heritage wreckers could follow suit safe in the knowledge they will receive only a small fine.
Millionaire businessman David Edwards received the fine at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last week for demolishing the B-listed 1838 Luscar House last August.

“Demolition is becoming more popular as a response to the built heritage,” said Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland director Sean O’Reilly. “If the easiest way is to just go and knock it down, it is one in the eye for people that follow the rules.”

The case follows the illegal demolition last year of the 1930s Connell Ward & Lucas-designed Greenside in Surrey by its owner David Beadle.

That demolition will be the subject of a public inquiry in the autumn, which heritage campaigners hope will lead to stiff punishments being introduced for people who destroy listed buildings.

Dunfermline sheriff Ian Simpson called the demolition of the house, by Scottish architect David Bryce, a “tragedy”.