19 February 2015
Last updated at 21:55

The “Spy Booth” mural appeared in Cheltenham last April

A Banksy mural painted on a Cheltenham house has gained listed protection after council planners agreed to grant it retrospective planning permission.

The “Spy Booth” artwork, showing three figures “snooping” on a telephone box, appeared in Hewlett Road last April.

The “unauthorised” mural was added to the Grade II* listed property without listed building consent, so could not be included in its listed status.

Cheltenham Borough Council voted by 12 votes to one to grant the application.

The mural, located about three miles from government listening post GCHQ, has been a source of controversy ever since it appeared.

It has been daubed with white paint, sprayed with silver and red graffiti, had people trying to steal it and businesses and communities fighting over ownership.

Now with listed building consent, both the mural and the building’s satellite dish will be protected from unauthorised alteration or removal.

Martin Chandler, borough council case officer, said: “It will be afforded a greater level of protection then it has currently but it doesn’t mean we won’t be faced with future applications to consider other changes to it.”

“It [planning consent] doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to be retained in situ.”