The Greyhound – what is going on?

Along with local councillors and residents, the Sydenham Society has been watching in dismay as this locally listed building in the Cobbs Corner Conservation Area has been substantially demolished without permission and is now being rebuilt by Purelake, although the rebuild is not to the permission granted.

In response to serious concerns expressed by local residents, questions to Lewisham planners include:

1. When can we expect to see a planning application submitted for the retrospective building of the basement and the internal layout?

2. Rebuilding of the pub brick by brick – externally is the roof line still the same, will the front facade have oriel windows including curving glass, can we expect to see a wooden balcony rail, will there be decorative wooden eaves in three places, can we expect to see chimneys in the same position as previously?

3. Internal layout – with regard to the lobby entrance will this retain two sets of double doors, and what is the intended positioning of the tiles from the drinking corridor?

4. Have the planning officers signed off the Greyhound design for the rear wall?

5. Landscaping – where are the trees going and what soft landscaping can residents expect to see? So far there is no indication of any landscaping on the piazza – although this was shown on the drawings of the frontage.

A revised April application included two new self contained flats on the first floor and in the roof space and omitted the community facility on the first floor. This application has now been withdrawn as it did not meet the expectation of rebuilding the structure, like for like.

It is understood that Planning officers from Lewisham Council are still waiting for Purelake to submit revised drawings for the pub which will, hopefully, show an appropriate rebuilding of the public house. It is also understood that until the planning conditions are met by the developer the site cannot be handed over to Hexagon for the 40 new affordable homes or for occupation of the two commercial units – one of which is expected to be Sainsbury’s.

Meanwhile hopes of a new pub for the Cobbs Corner area being opened by midsummer 2012 have been dashed.