Save the Glamorgan Campaign January 2021 Update

The next meeting of Save the Glamorgan Campaign will be an online meeting via Zoom on Wednesday 27th January 2021 at 7 pm. Details will be circulated shortly—more information on the group’s Facebook page.

The planning application 19/05926/FUL to demolish the existing public house and replace with a block of 36 private flats has not yet had a planning committee hearing date set by Croydon Council. The planning application received 93 comments, including 87 comments from the public, including local Addiscombe West Councillors.

Please note that the formal deadline for comments has passed, it is still possible to register an objection via the council’s website.

Addiscombe Councillors objected to the planning application on the following grounds:

1) Demolition of a historic building dating back to 1838: The Glamorgan is one of the oldest public houses in Croydon, and guidance from Historic England states that “All medieval commercial buildings will be eligible for designation since they are exceptionally rare. Even fragmentary evidence will be very important. Most buildings before about 1850 surviving in anything like their original form will be listable;” page 21 of Historic England’s Listings Selection Guide to Commerce and Exchange Buildings: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/dlsg-commerce-exchange-buildings/heag121-commerce-and-exchange-lsg/

2) Demolition is in breach of the Asset of Community Value: Croydon Council granted an Asset of Community Value for the Glamorgan Pub in November 2017 following a community campaign led by the Save the Glamorgan Community Group.

3) Its demolition would contradict Croydon’s Local Plan Strategic Objective 6, A Place to belong.

4) Application would contradict the National Planning Policy Framework in paragraph 85 states that the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities

5) the Application would contradict The London Plan Policy 3.16: it cites the protection and enhancement of social infrastructure, including public houses and encouraging London boroughs to develop policies to protect public houses as a community asset.

6) The Planning application to demolish the Glamorgan Pub contradicts Croydon Council’s Local Plan Policy DM21: Protecting public houses
The Council will not grant planning permission for the demolition or change of use of a public house which displays the characteristics of a community pub such as:
• space for organised: social events such as pub quizzes, darts competitions, pool leagues;
• Meeting rooms, performance spaces, room for hire(appropriately soundproofed);
• Ancillary facilities (skittles alley, children’s play area); and
• Associated clubs and teams.
Unless:
a. The loss of the public house would not result in a shortfall of local public house provision of this type;
b. That the public house is no longer considered economically viable when considered against the CAMRA’s Public House Viability Test; and that a range of measures has been undertaken to seek to improve viability including (but not restricted to):
• Hosting quiz nights, craft fairs, live music or comedy;
• Food offer diversification;
• Providing B&B Accommodation;
• Renting out space for meetings, classes or community events;
• Maintenance, repair and visual improvements;
• Varied opening hours;
and c. The public house has been marketed as a public house, at a market rate for public houses, for a consistent period of 18 months.

7) the Developer has allowed the building to deteriorate. The planning document states the building needs £800k of refurbishment costs, the ground floor Public Bar area has been wrecked since the public House was closed and under the planning applicant’s control. The lead on the roof has been removed, and no actions have been made to remove the squatters.

8)  No evidence that they have marketed the property since buying the property in 2016 from Punch Tavern Ltd. After buying the property, the new owner and applicants closed the pub at short notice. When Punch Tavern sold, there was interest from other public house licence holders interested in leasing the building to run as a public house.

9) Proposed 11 Storey Building is too tall for Cross Road: the proposed building is too tall for the Victorian terrace street. The predominant building form on the Public House side of Cross Road is only two storeys Mid-Victorian terrace.

10) Visual Impact on Georgian Court: Georgian Court is only 4 storeys high, this residential building is opposite the Glamorgan Public House on Cross Road. Will be overshadowed by the new 11 storeys building.

11) Lack of affordable housing: The develop claims there isn’t enough profit to provide affordable housing, and is seeking financial support from the Mayor of London. The figures provided by the developers are not credible.

12) New proposed bar is too small: the new proposed bar on the ground is insufficient as a space to make money. Due to its small size and space, it wouldn’t provide the Glamorgan Public House’s community activity previously.