Appeal Over Morden Tavern Development Plans
Plans now go before planning inspector
A property developer has appealed against a council decision to reject their plans for the site of the empty Morden Tavern.
Merton Borough Council's planning committee turned down the application for retail units, flats, houses and maisonettes on the site in Central Road, Morden, in January.
The Campaign for Morden Tavern, now re-named the St Helier Pub Group (SHPG), had fought the plans, submitted by Reef Estates.
Now Reef Estates has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate about the decision made on their £1 million scheme.
A spokesman for SHPG said: "It is astonishing that developer Reef Estates has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate for its Morden Tavern scheme given the robust series of reasons for refusal of consent given by Merton's planning applications committee on January 12, including the loss of a valued community facility."
The group feels there are enough new homes being added to the St Helier estate and had been working on plans to turn it into a community pub.
The building, which is actually owned by the council, datest back to 1932 and was 'locally listed' in 2010 as a typical period building, designed by highly-regarded architect Sir Harry Redfern.
Comments can be made to the planning inspector before Wednesday May 9. To make a comment, visit: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/, search using the case number APP/T5720/A/12/2172973, then click on the 'comment on this case' link.
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May 1, 2012
