Alliance pub: Council refuse plans for West Hampstead pub as community groups want building listed
The Alliance pub, West Hampstead. Picture: @FordwychRA - Credit: Archant
Community groups are celebrating after the owners of the “landmark” Alliance pub in West Hampstead had planning permission for extensive remodelling and redevelopment refused.
Now the Fordwych Residents Association wants to get the pub listed to protect it against future threats.
The redevelopment plans would have seen the Mill Lane pub’s mansard roof extended and a small loss of floor space in the bar accommodate seven flats above the pub.
Alliance regular Joanne Scott, who is also co-chair of the FRA, told the Ham&High the group was pleased.
She said: “The proposed rear and mansard roof extensions were too large and out of scale with the Victorian architecture.”
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The pub’s lower floors were designated an Asset of Community Value in 2016, in the same week pub chain Greene King sold the premises.
That year, planning permission to convert space above the pub into flats was approved.
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Nick Jackson of the Fortune Green and West Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum said: “We were content with the previous permission given to redevelop the upper parts of the pub, as the development would have given security to the owner and ensured that the future of the pub itself would be more secure. We did object on a number of points to this new application, mostly focused around changes that might affect the pub’s viability.
“It appears that the refusal was largely based on tighter protection for pubs instigated recently by the council, which we approve of.”
Nick said the group hopes the previously approved development now goes ahead to safeguard the pub’s future.
Joanne added the FRA wants a formal listing to deter future development plans, saying: “The Alliance pub is a landmark building. It should be protected.”
Planning officers refused the application and said: “Although the proposed development would provide seven new residential units, the proposed rear extensions and mansard roof extension would appear as an incongruous and excessively prominent addition.”
The developers have been approached for comment.
