The applicant is turning a local community asset into private residential property.

 

We all remember the good times at the White Swan, it was the beating heart of Charlton.

 

That's why the Charlton Society worked with the council to define the building as an Asset of Community Value.

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In your objection - tell the Planning Inspectorate how you used the pub how its unique as a music venue, how you used the function rooms and the what its loss means to us. 

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ACV

 The White Swan is an Asset of Community Value (ACV) The localism Act 2011 defines an asset of community;

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“as the property’s actual current use, or a use in the recent past, furthers the social wellbeing or the social interests (cultural, recreational, or sporting interests) of the local community”

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It is noted that the Built Heritage Statement provided by the applicant from the RPS group  states (page 3 and 21);

“The proposed change of use would result in the loss of the original use of the building, but does retain a community use in the form of a retail unit, thereby maintaining an active frontage.”

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Feeling Salty?

The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that Mendoza in February 2020 gained planning permission to build a three bedroom house in the beer garden. In order to gain that planning permission they commissioned a viability assessment outlining to the council how important the White Swan was as a pub and the wider community. 

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You may wish to quote directly from Mendoza's Viability Statement by Kenneth Hogg Feb 2020 to the Planning Inspectorate who first sketch out the nature of the White Swan business:

 

"Trade was drawn from an eclectic mix of customers to include established locals as well as the young professionals who have moved into this area as it has undergone gentrification in recent years. The pub was notably more female friendly than many of the more traditional male oriented “boozers” in the wider area although I understand that the pub had remained popular with Charlton Athletic football supporters"

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Before going on to note that it is exactly this group that are driving growth in the London pub market:

 

"In addition those operators with more hybrid formats that offer local communities multiple and more tailored reasons to visit are also expected to achieve strong market growth attracting more under 35s, a higher number of females and a diversity of cultures which might previously have been put off by more traditional male orientated establishments." 

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