THE owner of a Grade I listed building has won a battle against planning bosses.

Tony Antoniades painted Marlborough House in Old Steine, Brighton, last year without obtaining planning permission.

He told The Argus the property, which was built in 1765, had its Grade II listing upgraded to Grade I in 1999 after he bought it from Brighton and Hove City Council.

He said: “It is extremely restrictive and the building doesn’t deserve it.

“When it was owned by the local authority, it suffered years of arrogant neglect.

“They left it derelict and it needed significant renovation.

“I have spent £500,000 on work to date.”

The council granted Mr Antoniades planning permission for refurbishment works to the front of the building in 2002.

The Planning Inspectorate’s report, published on Thursday, said it was agreed to reinstate a “fibrecem” artificial stone finish, similar to the original artificial stone, and to leave it unpainted.

After Mr Antoniades had the building painted, he applied for a listed building consent application but this was refused.

The council issued a listed building enforcement notice that required the removal of all the paint from the external walls using a non-abrasive method but Mr Antoniades did not do this.

However the report also noted the stucco was painted several times in the 19th century and that “contrary to what the council, Historic England, the Regency Society and the Brighton Conservation Advisory Group state should happen, there is no historical precedent for maintaining this facade of the building unpainted”.

Mr Antoniades said: “It is clear that the officer writing the report took a very strong position and went along with my views 100 per cent.

“It says with crystal clarity that the gang got it wrong.

“It is a very good decision, and now we can look at finding a tenant for the building.

“I would like to see it turned into a hotel or restaurant with rooms, maybe with a wine cellar in the basement.”

A council spokesman said: “The council is disappointed with the appeal decision but we will now seek to work with the owner to secure the full repair and restoration of this important listed building and to find a long term viable use for it.”