City pub saved following public inquiry

Last year, Southwark Council issued a planning enforcement notice for an unauthorised change of use to turn the China Hall pub in Rotherhithe into two flats.

The notice was appealed by the owners and went to a public inquiry over three days, with representations made by the council’s planning enforcement team, their specialist lawyers, and local residents.

Ward councillors Cllr Whittam and Cllr Cryan also made representations in support of the council’s case.

Never acceptable 

Though the planning inspector dismissed the appeal and found in favour of the council, meaning the China Hall must once again be a public house, ruling the pub was unlawfully converted into flats and must once again be a public house.

Cllr Helen Dennis, cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development, said: “This is a huge win for our planning enforcement team and local residents who worked together to save the China Hall as a functioning pub.

“Pubs are specifically protected by planning policy and for good reason. I’m thrilled such an important piece of Rotherhithe’s history and community has been protected.

“It serves as a warning that it is never acceptable for works for go ahead before a planning application has been approved.”

In January 2022, works had begun to convert the ground-floor of the pub into two flats before planning permission was obtained.

Dedication & diligence 

Enforcement officers from the council visited the site and discovered the bar had been removed, the beer lines cut, fixtures, fittings and carpets stripped out, leaving the ground floor little more than an empty shell.

Michael Robertson and Steve Cornish of the China Hall Local Community Group added the decision meant the pub’s “legacy” could now be enjoyed for generations to come.

This comes almost a year after the destruction of the Crooked House​ in Staffordshire, which was burnt to the ground and subsequently demolished in an unlawful manner.

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) chair of south-east London Andy Large commented: “I am delighted with the result and extremely grateful to the team at Southwark Council for their dedication and diligence in the defence of the China Hall over a prolonged period of time.

“I hope it serves as an inspiration to other local planning authorities to defend against unauthorised development that results in the loss of valued community facilities.”