The Cheltenham Banksy has been recommended for listed building consent by the town council.

An application has been made to Cheltenham Borough Council to list to the controversial ‘spies’ artwork, which appeared on the side of a house on the corner of Fairview Road and Hewlett Road last April.

It will be considered by the council’s planning committee on February 19.

Businessman Hekmat Kaveh has applied for the work, a satellite dish on the side of the house, and a BT phone box, which have been incorporated into the design, to be included in the house’s Grade II listed status.

It means any work carried out affecting the mural, without consent, would be a crime.

Mr Kaveh has been trying to buy the property and turn it into a museum.

An application on behalf of Mr Kaveh, via planning consultants, SF Planning reads: “It is hoped that the grant of listed building consent will help to prevent future vandalism or the removal of the mural from the existing building.”

The mural has been the source of a considerable amount of drama since it first graced Cheltenham; it has been subjected to several acts of vandalism, workmen had to be prevented from removing the part of the wall on which it sits and there have been rumours that it was due to be shipped to the USA.

Cheltenham Borough Council chief executive Andrew North said: “Council officers have been working with the owner of the building and a local resident who has made a listed building consent application to regularise the unusual situation with the Banksy and associated satellite dish.

“We intend to continue working with both parties to seek the best resolution possible for Cheltenham, but it must be appreciated that the council has to act within the legal powers available to it.”

The house’s owner, David Possee, is said to have objected to the listing in a submission to the council.

A posting on Facebook group, Save the Banksy Cheltenham attributed to ‘the house owner’, said: “There has been much talk and speculation that an elected body made up from the local business community and headed by Mr Hekmat Kaveh are prepared to provide funding to repair and restore the mural and the fabric to which it is applied but in reality there has been no commitment or approach to myself from any such body and to find myself excluded from discussions regarding the proposed listing is both bewildering and insulting.”