The government approves of this shark now.

Summary by Krater

Tom Scott explores the story behind the Headington Shark in Oxford, discussing its installation by artist Bill Heine in 1986, the planning disputes that followed, and its recent addition to the local heritage assets list.

From the video

Answers: What is the story behind the shark on the roof in Oxford?

• Headington Shark
• public art planning permission
• local heritage assets
• Oxford architecture

What it concludes

• The Headington Shark was installed without planning permission in 1986 as a protest against war and bombing.
• After a six-year legal battle, the shark was allowed to stay because a senior British government official ruled it had enough artistic merit as a one-off.
• The shark was recently added to the local list of heritage assets, though it remains without national protection and is not officially protected against future removal.