The owners of the house which Banksy painted his Spies artwork are expected to challenge the building’s listed status to try and pave the way to sell the piece.
Cheltenham Borough Council slapped a temporary stop notice on the property on Wednesday to prevent any work being done to the house without permission.
But the owners are believed to be enlisting the help of heritage surveyors to question whether the house deserves its Grade II status.
Robin Barton, the owner of London’s Bankrobber Gallery and the man trying to broker a deal to sell the Banksy, said: “We are having a heritage surveyor meet the council next week to discuss this. Our understanding is that the Grade II listing is inaccurate on many levels.”
Meanwhile, Mr Barton said the owners have no intention of contravening the council’s stop notice and that the contractors “won’t go near” the Banksy while the notice is in place.
However, Mr Barton has downplayed the importance of the notice, telling the Echo it is “not relevant” at this stage because people “underestimate” just how long it takes to remove an artwork from the side of a house.
“If the owner wants to have the piece removed, we would be looking at a six week removal time because it is a very slow process,” he said.
“It is not as simple as cutting a hole in the wall.”
But Mr Barton does believe the stop notice will buy local businesses some time to raise money to try and keep the artwork in Cheltenham.
He said: “The owners of the house are challenging the listing and if they are successful I am guessing the local community won’t have the appetite to find the funds so it will be removed, but I hope they do.
“I just don’t see it.”
The temporary stop notice will cease on July 30 and Mr Barton believes it exposes the artwork to the risk of vandalism.
“There is every possibility the ‘if we can’t have it neither can you’ brigade will come out,” he said.
Contravening a temporary stop notice is a criminal offence and carries with it the potential for an unlimited fine.
Mark Nelson, built environment enforcement manager at the borough council, said: “The council has reason to believe that unauthorised works have taken place, but we cannot elaborate any further and risk prejudicing any potential action in the future.
“We hope the temporary stop notice will open up discussions between the owner and the council about their immediate plans for this listed building.”