Battersea pub gains ACV status before planned demolition

Earlier this year, the Wellington Pub Company, which owns the Stag Bar in Battersea, notified the council of its intention to knock down the building and would have been free to do so over the coming weeks because of the permitted development rights in place at the site. It is unclear why the pubco wants to knock down the building.

However, the newly approved ACV listing removes permitted development rights, so demolition proposals will now have to go through the planning process.

Wandsworth Council’s director of housing and regeneration Brian Reilly said the Stag was given ACV status because of the “significant role it has played in the social history of Battersea”.

An interim measure

Last August​, Wandsworth Council announced it would remove permitted development rights for pubs across the borough by introducing an Article 4 (A4) direction.

At the time, deputy council leader Jonathan Cook said the borough’s pubs were “the best protected in the entire country” and Southwark Council has since followed​ Wandsworth’s lead.

However, Wandsworth’s A4 direction is not due to come into effect until August 2017.

A spokesperson for Wandsworth Council told The Morning Advertiser​ that the ACV application was accepted as an interim measure to protect the pub from demolition until the A4 direction takes effect.