A string of planning applications by Tesco over the George IV pub were deferred by councillors this week, after a mix up left a planning committee discussing the wrong plans.
Confusion reigned at Lambeth Town Hall on Tuesday evening, as a conservation planning officer told a meeting that the plans they were discussing for the proposed Express store were the wrong ones.
He claimed that graphics being projected on to the wall of Room 8 were an older version of the proposed shop front, and that newer plans more sympathetic to the heritage of the Victorian pub had been drawn up.
Councillors promptly voted to defer all applications to a later meeting to allow them, and objectors, to consult the newer plans for the store.
Bill Linskey, chair of Brixton Society, spoke against the applications. He told Brixton Blog after the meeting: “It’s only a postponement, but every little helps!
“I can’t understand why it’s happened, but things do go wrong from time to time and I’m glad the committee made a responsible decision tonight and deferred the decision.”
The proposals were for a new shopfront, the installation of a ramp to the front of the store, advertising consent and new power plants at the back of the building. The bid had been called in for scrutiny at the meeting by Brixton Hill councillor Alex Holland.
Earlier Linskey had told councillors how plans for the supermarket fascia were inappropriate.
He said: “You’ve got a a completely architecturally illiterate change to the frontage, you’ve got a hideous ramp zig-zagging like a scar across the front of the building. All at ground floor level right in your face.
“It will completely ruin the appearance of this splendid old building. These proposals are completely unacceptable in a conservation area.”
Andrew Child, co-founder of the Save George IV group, said: “We’ve had more than 3,000 signatures on a petition against this, and Chuka Umunna has supported us and he says that this Tesco store is not wanted or needed.”
A visibly angry agent for Tesco objected to the deferral of the applications, and was upset that the committee chairman did not give him an opportunity to speak before ending the discussion on the item.
Previously, Matt Maggee, from Tesco, had told Brixton Blog that the store will create a number of local jobs. He said: “This is a building owned by a private developer who wants to let the space as a shop. It has not been run successfully as a business for some time. We think it will be a popular store.”
The planning applications will now be considered at a later meeting.
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There are already 2 Sainsbury’s on the short stretch between Brixton and Holmewood Rd.
While Tesco is slightly cheaper than S, I don’t see what benefit there would be to having yet another supermarket taking over that location. This is a similar situation to the 26 phone shops in Brixton High St, which together with Foxtons/Costa/Starbucks are turning the area into a clone of any other high st in the country.
Not only that, but Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s local charge a premium, when compared to the larger stores.
If there really has to be another supermarket there, I’d rather it be a Lidl.
Where do I sign this petition?
Pub wasn’t used hence the closure, I can’t believe 3,000 locals objected to this, as most would use it
That part of Brixton Hill could use a Tesco Express.