The Court fire investigation 'inconclusive' - what we know

Hertfordshire Police today (August 11) said all lines of inquiry have been exhausted after The Court, in Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, caught light in early February.

But its owner says he feels "scapegoated" amid claims of unauthorised demolition work and the future of the building being raised in the House of Commons.

The Grade II-listed building’s future is uncertain, with a stop order prohibiting any demolition work issued by Three Rivers District Council last month effective until September 15.

Inside the property. (Image: Tarun Agrawal) The notice stated it was made in response to physical evidence of demolition and witnesses claiming to have seen such work taking place.

The building’s owner Tarun Agrawal claims he is being made a “scapegoat” and the council was informed of everything undertaken at the site.

According to Mr Agrawal, who lives locally and has restored other historic buildings, the council is more worried about “public opinion” than saving the heritage asset.

He says his team moved parts of the building that fell naturally or were hanging dangerously, but "no demolition" took place.

The 43-year-old financial advisor and property developer has submitted plans to put up a wall around the property to protect it from break-ins and further damage, which he claims the council is seeking to block.

(Image: Tarun Agrawal) Police have confirmed they investigated theft from the site but all lines of inquiry were exhausted.

After the site is secure, a new house is planned to replace the fire-damaged main building.

How much of the structure and design will remain depends on structural reports and what the council decides, Mr Agrawal said.

(Image: Tarun Agrawal) He said the aim was and remains to give the property to his son as a single home, but last year it was leased out in the short term to what turned out to be a cannabis farm operation.

This led to two people being arrested in September 2024. Both have since been deported.

Mr Agrawal says he became wary of whom to lease it to after this and nobody suitable was found, leaving it vacant when the fire broke out.

He added that its insurers did not pay out because the property was unoccupied and Mr Agrawal says he cancelled a trip to Dubai soon after the fire to give his full support to the police investigation.

(Image: Tarun Agrawal) Months on, he says he is left waiting for confirmation of what work he is allowed to do while more reports are drawn up and his £3.5m property continues to fall apart.

In March, a structural report he commissioned found the house “has lost its structural integrity” amid a loss of lateral support which “could result in the collapse of the building”.

This report came with suggestions of work to preserve what is left, which the council has apparently objected to.

"Why are they not helping us to save this heritage house?" Mr Agrawal added. "Why are they not allowing us to do the work?"

READ MORE: 

• 'Suspicious' collapses and 'unauthorised works' at fire-damaged listed building
• Stop order amid 'demolition' fears for The Court after fire
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A council spokesperson said: “The council has acted when evidence has shown that unauthorised works have taken place at The Court.

“Planning officers are currently assessing an application for a new wall around the property which will be determined following an assessment against national and local planning policies and any other relevant considerations.”

Gagan Mohindra MP (second from right) raised the building's plight in Parliament earlier this year. Pictured with (L to R) Cllr Philip Hearn, Cllr Ciaran Reed, Cllr Oliver Cooper (Image: Gagan Modindra MP) Although the investigation into the fire was inconclusive, police added that “any new information that comes to light will be acted on accordingly”.

According to Savills, the “substantial Grade II-listed country house” was “one of the most iconic properties in the area”.

Historic England, which first listed The Court in 1985, says it was built in 1911 or 1912 for the original producer of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest - George Alexander.

Conservative South West Hertfordshire MP Gagan Mohindra called attention to the fire in Parliament in March, urging the Government to make sure listed buildings that are lost are “rebuilt brick by brick”.