MILLIONAIRE businessman Mike Holland is being prosecuted for carrying out work on a 300-year-old building without permission.

The South Downs National Park Authority has taken the property mogul to court over accusations he made unauthorised alterations to the Grade II* listed Stanmer Park stable block.

The 69-year-old, of King’s Road, Brighton, was due in court on Friday to answer the criminal charges under planning laws.

But the hearing at Worthing Magistrates’ Court was adjourned until November because his legal team asked for more time, a spokeswoman for the authority said yesterday.

Holland is facing one charge of demolishing, altering or extending the building which affected its listed character.

The authority alleges between January 28, 2013, and April 22, 2015, he was behind work which affected the 1720s stable block’s character as a building of “special architectural or historic interest”.

Planning consent was granted in 2013 for eight flats with the condition that part of the stables remain.

Last year The Argus reported how developers could face prosecution over the 300-year-old Grade II* listed stable block.

Historic England recommended the authority consider prosecuting company Threadneedle Estates, of which Holland is a director, over alleged unauthorised works converting the stables into flats.

At the time an application from Holland said it was always the intention to apply for retrospective permission.

Separately, the authority’s planning committee will on Thursday consider two applications from Holland for permission to carry out work at the stable block.

These are being made retrospectively.

Committee members will consider whether the work to transform the stable into a studio flat should be permitted.

Holland has also asked to use part of the building previously outlined for a bike store as part of the homes. Planning officers have recommended both applications be refused on the grounds, claiming the conversion work resulted in “detrimental impact” to the building.

Background

Mike Holland was also behind the restoration of Stanmer House, the 18th century Grade I listed Georgian mansion.

Just under a year ago Holland announced plans to sell the long-term lease on Stanmer House.

The Brighton-born businessman said the sale was part of his “retirement” from major property investment after a career stretching over half a century. This has been bought by gallery and club owner Alex Proud. The businessman, who appeared on Secret Millionaire in 2011, also owns The Engineerium in Hove and became a board member of Brighton radio station Juice 107.2 FM last year. He sold his lease on the former Astoria cinema in 2014 for £5.5 million.