A historic south London pub that had been transformed into flats with out permission needs to be restored as a pub after the homeowners misplaced an attraction in opposition to the choice.
The China Corridor (c) Southwark Council
The late Victorian China Corridor pub in Rotherhithe closed in December 2018, and in Could 2021, permission was granted so as to add flats to the higher flooring and on the aspect of the constructing, however the floor flooring pub needed to be retained.
Following a tip-off, Southwark Coucil’s enforcement officers visited the pub in January 2022 and located that the bar had been eliminated, the beer strains minimize, and fixtures, fittings, and carpets stripped out, leaving the bottom flooring little greater than an empty shell.
The homeowners had been trying to transform the bottom flooring into two flats, with out planning permission. They later utilized for planning permission, which was refused. The homeowners then appealed, and earlier this 12 months, a three-day public inquiry was held with an impartial planning inspector.
The council’s planning enforcement group, its specialist legal professionals, and native residents made representations. Ward councillors Cllr Whittam and Cllr Cryan additionally made representations in help of the council’s case.
Final week, the planning inspector dismissed the attraction, ruling that the pub was unlawfully transformed into flats and should as soon as once more be a public home.
Cllr Helen Dennis, Cupboard Member for New Houses and Sustainable Improvement, mentioned: “This can be a big win for our planning enforcement group and native residents who labored collectively to avoid wasting The China Corridor as a functioning pub. Pubs are particularly protected by planning coverage and for good motive. I’m thrilled that such an necessary piece of Rotherhithe’s historical past and group has been protected. It serves as a warning that it’s by no means acceptable for works for go forward earlier than a planning utility has been accredited.”
The China Corridor (c) Southwark Council
The remainder of the conversion has already been carried out, however the floor flooring have to be restored as a pub, and the homeowners will probably be required to revive the harm and take away a number of the further outbuildings that they had constructed.
Though the pub had closed, there was little doubt there could be curiosity in reopening it. The planning inspector report notes that a number of formal affords had been made when it was being promoted for a brand new occupant, and even throughout the pandemic, potential pub operators visited the constructing. The constructing homeowners even rejected a proper provide made by the operators of one other native pub in June 2020 for causes the planning inspector discovered unconvincing.
Andy Massive, Chair of South East London CAMRA, mentioned: “I’m delighted with the outcome and intensely grateful to the group at Southwark Council for his or her dedication and diligence within the defence of the China Corridor over a chronic time frame. I hope it serves as an inspiration to different native planning authorities to defend in opposition to unauthorised growth that leads to the lack of valued group services. Thanks very a lot.”
Whereas justifiably celebrating a victory in saving a Victorian-era pub, it needs to be tempered with the data that the landlords rented out the 2 illegally constructed flats to households who, by means of no fault of their very own, might want to discover some other place to stay.
This text was revealed on ianVisits
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