Residents of Nursling in the UK have been left stunned after a beautiful 17th-century thatched cottage was torn down in just one hour, without the permission of the Planning Commission. Regarded as the hallmark of their village and featured on the front cover of a book about local history, it was thought to be considered a listed building — the UK equivalent of U.S. historical buildings — and, therefore, protected from unauthorized alteration or demolition. Neighbors thought the demolition crew that showed up were there to re-thatch the roof, but were stunned when they bulldozed the cottage to the ground. The last planning application in relation to the cottage was submitted to the council in 2022, seeking to build a new home on the land next to the cottage. The application was approved, but no work was ever started. Phil Bundy of Test Valley Borough Council said they were not notified of the work in advance. They are now investigating the matter to see if correct planning procedures were followed and to determine exactly why the home was demolished.
