Bid to get house with 25ft great white shark on roof listed status

A house with a giant 25ft great white shark sculpture coming out of its roof is to be considered for heritage status - by a council that once asked for its removal.

The fibreglass artwork, created by John Buckley, was installed at 2 New High Street, Oxford, back in 1986 by the property's owner Bill Heine.

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At the time, he was told to remove the shark as it broke planning rules. He was eventually told he could keep it when Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Heseltine, backed an appeal in 1992.

There is now a bid to add the shark to the Oxford City Council's register of heritage assets by local residents.

The campaign is being supported by local councillor Ruth Wilkinson. According to the BBC, she said that people come from all over the world to see the "iconic" shark, which is now an "integral part" of the area.

The application to have it added to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register is likely to be submitted next year.

Mike Ratcliffe, the Chairman of Headington Neighbourhood Forum, said it was an "entirely appropriate" candidate for listed status.

According to the Telegraph, he added: "The shark, embedded in its rooftop, continues to intrude, to surprise and to fascinate.

"People stop to look, it has a presence on Trip Advisor and has an international reputation."

The paper added that Mr Heine, who now lives in Waterstock and is having treatment for terminal leukaemia, welcomes the campaign to get the shark house listed.