THEME 1: Viability. The Applicant claims the White Swan wasn't financially viable

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**Lack of evidence for economic unviability**: The applicant has failed to prove that the pub is economically unviable, as the marketing documents show that the pub was advertised for prices well above the market rate. The applicant also contradicts their previous application, which claimed that the pub had potential for growth.

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**Breach of planning conditions**: The applicant has breached the conditions of their successful application to build a house in part of the beer garden, by not maintaining the public house, function rooms and remaining garden. 

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**Goes against Greenwich Council's Local Plan**: The applicant has failed to carry out an assessment of the needs of the local community or community facilities, as required by the Greenwich Council's Local Plan.

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THEME 2: Economy. The application threatens the village economy by creating another supermarket retail unit.

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**The application threatens the Village economy by creating another supermarket retail unit.**: The White Swan is a designated Asset of Community Value. How is that status being respected legally and morally by the applicant by turning the pub into a retail unit in a Village that currently has 5 unused retail units as it is.

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**Does the Village need a fourth supermarket?** A new Tesco, or similar retail space, would compete with three existing supermarkets; the long-established Co-Op, and two family-owned ventures, The International Food Market and a newly opened Vietnamese supermarket. There is also a thriving family-owned Greengrocers at the entrance to the Village. The Greengrocers used to supply vegetables to the White Swan, now it faces yet more competition from a high street supermarket.

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**The White Swan brought people from outside Charlton into the Village**: The White Swan was especially popular for its many live music events, which brought visitors to the Village from miles around, spending money not just in the pub but in the surrounding businesses. It is highly unlikely that people from outside Charlton will be tempted to visit the Village for a fourth supermarket in the village.

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THEME 3: Conservation. Mendoza’s proposal to scrap the White Swan is architecturally not in keeping with a Victorian local heritage asset and endangers an 'at risk' conservation area

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**Heritage and Conservation**: The White Swan is a locally listed building in a conservation area that is designated "at risk" by Historic England. However, the applicant pays no attention to preserving or enhancing the character and appearance of the conservation area, as required by planning law. The proposal to erect a two-story rectangular box on the roof is visually not in keeping with a Victorian Gothic building.

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**Use materials and style in keeping with the pub's late Victorian architecture**: The plans submitted by the owners constitute an unsympathetic alteration in terms of materials, size, design and concept. We would ask the Planning Inspectorate to reject this application to protect and conserve the characteristics of this locally listed building in line with the Royal Greenwich Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework concerning local heritage assets.

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THEME 4: Community. The applicant is turning a local community asset into private residential property.

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**Loss of a community asset**: The White Swan is a music and arts venue that provides a space for local artists, musicians and performers to showcase their talents and connect with the community. Converting it into a retail space would deprive the community of a valuable cultural and social resource.

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**The applicant themselves commissioned a report saying how important the White Swan was to the wider community**: 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. To quote Mendoza's own report: "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... 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"