House with a 25ft Great White Shark sticking out of the roof is due to become listed in a campaign by the very council that ordered it to be demolished 28 years ago
- The fiberglass figure was built in 1986 by then owner Bill Heine
- Oxford City Council wanted it removed and refused retrospective planning permission in 1990
- But they are now expected to approve application for it to be listed on Oxford Heritage Asset Register
A house with a 25ft Great White shark sticking out of its roof could be made a national treasure by the same council which wanted it torn down.
Broadcaster and local journalist Bill Heine had the enormous beast built into the roof of his terraced home on New High Street in Headington, Oxford, in August 1986.
The fibreglass figure became the area's most unusual tourist attraction.
![Broadcaster and local journalist Bill Heine had the enormous beast built into the roof of his terraced home on New High Street in Headington, Oxford, in August 1986](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/477196A700000578-0-image-a-10_1513675108063.jpg)
Broadcaster and local journalist Bill Heine had the enormous beast built into the roof of his terraced home on New High Street in Headington, Oxford, in August 1986
But city councillors loathed it and refused retrospective planning permission four years after it was erected.
Not one to give in without a fight, Bill appealed to then secretary of state for the environment Michael Heseltine who supported plea to keep the shark.
Now - in an unexpected U-turn - Oxford City Council wants to make it an officially listed building so tourists can continue to pose for selfies with it in years to come.
![Created by sculptor John Buckley to protest America's bombing of Libya, the Headington shark is listed among the top 50 things to do in Oxford on TripAdvisor](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/4772387600000578-0-image-m-29_1513676924324.jpg)
Created by sculptor John Buckley to protest America's bombing of Libya, the Headington shark is listed among the top 50 things to do in Oxford on TripAdvisor
![City councillors refused retrospective planning permission four years after the enormous fibreglass figure was erected](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/4772389E00000578-0-image-m-30_1513676942354.jpg)
City councillors refused retrospective planning permission four years after the enormous fibreglass figure was erected
Created by sculptor John Buckley to protest America's bombing of Libya, the Headington shark is listed among the top 50 things to do in Oxford on TripAdvisor.
The application for it to be listed on the Oxford Heritage Asset Register will now go to the city council.
Council heritage officers are expected to give their approval in the summer.
![But in an unexpected U-turn they now want to make it an officially listed building](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/4772379100000578-0-image-a-23_1513676731114.jpg)
But in an unexpected U-turn they now want to make it an officially listed building
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/4772384200000578-0-image-a-21_1513676684604.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/4772384A00000578-0-image-a-20_1513676684482.jpg)
The application for it to be listed on the Oxford Heritage Asset Register will now go to the city council - if approved, a bid will be made to have the shark nationally listed with English Heritage
![Mr Heine, 72, who now lives in Waterstock, has welcomed the campaign to get his old shark house listed](http://web.archive.org./web/20171220065315/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/09/4772388A00000578-0-image-a-28_1513676856926.jpg)
Mr Heine, 72, who now lives in Waterstock, has welcomed the campaign to get his old shark house listed
If given the go-ahead, a bid would then be made to have the shark nationally listed with English Heritage.
It is hoped that future generations of tourists will be able to enjoy the iconic home in years to come if it is given protection through the planning system.
Mike Ratcliffe, Chairman of Headington Neighbourhood Forum, told The Sun the shark 'continues to intrude, to surprise and to fascinate'.
Mr Heine, 72, who now lives in Waterstock, has welcomed the campaign to get the shark house listed.
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