By Kaye Wiggins
Developers have applied for permission to demolish the Canterbury Arms pub and build a nine-storey block of flats in its place.
Under the proposals the building, on the corner of Pope’s Road and Canterbury Crescent in central Brixton, would be replaced with 31 flats, of which 11 would be designated as ‘affordable’ housing.
There would also be a 1,745 sq ft space for “commercial community uses”, according to a statement from the developer, May Developments. This would be available at below market rents, the firm said.
The plans represent the first phase of wider development around Pope’s Road, which include International House and the temporary ice skating rink.
The planning application can be viewed here and the council is due to decide by 31 October whether the scheme can go ahead.
Updates on the development can be followed on the developers’ blog.
Is anyone coming on Tuesday to the Planning Meeting to see if we can get this overturned?
[…] sad to think that in a year’s time, the pub will likely be no more: a recent planning application submitted to the council seeks to demolish the building and build a […]
I should be more saddened by this news, as I used to love going here before and after gigs at the academy, but in recent years the management has really let this place go downhill. Maybe it is time to just let the place go.
…or try this. Objection to demolition here: http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/online-applications (You’ll need to login. But it won’t take long ot do). Enter reference: 13/03273/FUL in the search window to see the Canterbury Arms file.
I think the CAMERA link is for those who want to keeps pubs open and up and running as pubs. Trying to stop the building from being demolished might be more achievable. Here’s a link to the developper’s / Canterbury Arms blog, which, unlike the link in the article, should work:
http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1115211787330625101&postID=4089667837440288601
Lots of advice on saving pubs here: http://www.camra.org.uk/pubs
Would hate to see this pub go.
I would be willing to put some effort into saving this beautiful Victorian pub. Over the years, it may wax and wane and its owners will change, but if it is destroyed then the character and amenities of a local pub are lost for ever. Bars, such as Craft are great but do not replace such heritage. Once Pope’s Rd is redeveloped this pub will be rediscovered and in a prime location.
How can we save it?
I would be willing to put some effort into saving this beautiful Victorian pub. Over the years, it may wax and wane and its owners will change, but if it is destroyed then the character and amenities of a local pub are lost for ever. Bars, such as Craft, are great but do not replace such heritage. Once Pope’s Rd is redeveloped this pub will be rediscovered and in a prime location.
How can we save it?
I for one, would happily put some effort behind saving this beautiful victorian pub. Over the years, it may wax and wane and its owners will change. But once the architecture has been destroyed it is lost forever. Clearly once pope’s road gets redeveloped it will be in a prime location.
How can we go about saving this place?
Myself and a neighbour tried to stop The Queen pub being demolished with siignatures and going to planning meets at the council. We won the council over but it was the planni g inspector who over ruled the decisoon ..ie cental govt and John Prescott s dept. A lady inpector came and waffled on how the road could take such a big building because of the post office building at the othet end. many people didnt know but above the pub was very cheap accommodation for male workers.
I’m seriously fed up with these short term views that planners and developers have. How long would it be before we’d be ogling over old photos of lost Brixton. These people don’t recognise their assets.
Good memories of gigs at the Canterbury Arms in the 80’s; Napalm Death and Extreme Noise Terror, entrance was £1.50 I think…..
Of course we could just demolish all of Brixton and just make it one big Tescoland?
Good! London needs housing more than it needs shite pubs!
Nearly forgot. The Victoria (I think it was called) just up from the Ferndale Road post office, on the corner with Bellefields Road opposite the tyre shop. Once a fine old pub; now some daft architect’s ‘statement’ design of flats.
It was called ‘The Queen’ after Victoria and was demolished c.2003. Agree the flats that replaced the pub do seem to dominate and are not in tune with the surrounding Victorian rows of houses
The council has the preservation of “architecturally distinctive pubs” in its current Urban Development Plan. Yet they allowed the demolition of a fine Edwardian pub (Duke of Wellington) on Acre Lane recently, George IV on Brixton Hill is becoming a Tesco local, so don’t be surprised if council hypocrites stand by while the wrecking ball hits this fine building. Get on the council web site and register your objections to this proposed act of vandalism. Ordinary Victorian and Edwardian buildings like shops, pubs and mansion blocks give an attractive character to the area, but practically none are listed and if the developer owns it, the presumption in the planning department is that they can destroy it regardless of the merit of the building they propose to replace it with. Often councillors will say they agree with you about preserving it and then vote in favour of destruction in committee because they say they are legally obliged to. It is insane.
Can we apply to demolish the developers?
Is there a resident’s petition to save this beautiful building?