CONSERVATIONISTS and neighbours are banding together to prevent the demolition of a brick potting shed which is older than most of the buildings in Malvern.

The shed, in the grounds of historic Barnards Green House, is the subject of an application to knock it down to make way for a new house, which has already received planning permission.

But neighbour Lindsay Kemp-Harper says the shed should be retained because of its historic value.

Although the shed is not listed itself, it is in the grounds of Barnards Green House, a Grade II listed building. The house was once the home of Sir Charles Hastings, the founder of the British Medical Association.

Mr Kemp-Harper said: "It was built in the 1830s which means it's Georgian and it pre-dates most of Malvern. It pre-dates the railway coming to Malvern and it pre-dates Malvern's expansion as a Victorian spa town.

"If this building is under threat, almost anything in Malvern is no longer protected. If this is approved a major error would be made and a dangerous precedent set."

His call is backed by the Georgian Group which describes it as "characteristic of an early 19th century potting shed or gardener's shed".

"The building has undergone alteration and lost some of its context in recent years, but the alterations do not totally detract from the historic significance of the surviving structure," it says. "The contribution that modest buildings such as these make to the historic

environment and the character of a local area is easily overlooked."

Malvern Civic Society says: "Retaining what is left of the former garden and its infrastructure, including this truly special potting shed, is important and its demolition cannot be justified and moreover, will be a loss to the community."

And even residents of the nearby Hastings care home have written to Malvern Hills District Council calling for it to be preserved.

But planning consultant Marcus Cleaver, acting on behalf of applicant Sue Nicholls, said that the shed was severely damaged in a fire in 2005 and subsequently rebuilt.

He said: "This building wasn't specifically mentioned in the listing, even before the fire, which suggests that it's not of much historic value in itself, but only because it's in the grounds of Barnards Green House."

He said that since new houses were built in the grounds some years ago, the shed cannot now be regarded as being in the curtilage of Barnards Green House.

And a report from the district council's own conservation officer says that "without further evidence of the social historical significance of the shed, there is no objection to the removal of this modest brick building".

It is not yet known when a decision is likely to be made on the application for demolition.