A developer whose plans to convert a former live music venue into offices or shops have twice been rejected is now taking his case to appeal.
Grand Avenue Developments, owned by Timothy Clapham and Alfred Haagman, bought The Richmond in 2022, months after a cannabis farm was found in the hostels above the bar by police.
An application made in January last year to convert the bar into commercial space and the hostel into six flats was rejected because of the loss of the pub.
A new policy, DM10, requires developers to offer the lease at a reasonable rent for 24 months and demonstrate there has been no interest before a change of use application is approved.
The application was also refused because a proposed rear dormer window and changes to the front windows would be ugly, and there was no affordable housing provision.
Grand Avenue then asked for a certificate of lawfulness to confirm a 2009 planning approval to change the use from a bar and flats to a cafe bar and backpacker hostel, on the basis this had been partially implemented.
However, this was also refused on the basis the work to implement the rejected commercial and flats plans had already started, and the changes made meant that the 2009 plans would not be possible.
Planning officer Jack Summers wrote: “The permitted [2009] scheme was commenced prior to permission being granted. However, it was never fully implemented as the bar/live music venue at ground floor and basement level was in use until 2020 when the building became vacant.
“Further, given that the refused [2023] scheme is currently under development (without a planning permission in place), and there have been internal alterations to install an additional floor, which were not part of [the 2009] permitted scheme, it is considered, following legal advice, that this can no longer be implemented and a lawful development certificate cannot be granted stating otherwise.”
Mr Clapham submitted an appeal on 12 February.
The pub preservation planning policy, DM10, was officially adopted in August 2022, but as it had proposed in 2020, it was already being applied in planning decisions before that.
Mr Clapham, who runs Clapham Properties, is also the director of St Catherine’s Hove Ltd, which has applied to turn St Catherine’s Hotel in Hove into luxury flats.
The building is still listed by Graves Jenkins for £37,500 per year, with the listed marked as under offer. It says: “A former public house which is currently being transformed and converted to private rented accommodation on the upper floors and creating a newly refurbished open plan retail/office opportunity at ground floor level with the potential for a pavement licence for further trading area if required.”
Good to see the Planning office holding developers to account- too many of them have been circumventing the planning laws and cheating the system with over development, destroying conservation areas.
Do like the ugly bit. One person’s ugly is another’s beautiful. So leaving an unattractive site which will further decay for another 5 years or so is acceptable. Unless a unrealistic CIL is obtained by the council.
This was a great little pub in the summer.
Equally a decent music venue.
They should be forced to put it back how it was, then market the property properly as such for 2 years before being allowed to do anything development wise. Why would anyone want that to be their office anyway, tons of way nicer buildings to work from…
What is the point of building more office space when the 4,606 – 19,032 sq ft of office space at 1 Gloucester Road, almost across the road, have been empty and to let for ages?
This is an eye sore on my street I’m Richmond parade and use to live on Richmond Place
I had a feeling that the extension was illegal on the back. We need actual affordable housing or the pub back not more offices
We are watching the tories ruin our beautiful country
This building is very uguly and I miss the Richmond pub aka pressure point
This is an eyesore and it’s been hanging out like a bad smell since the building was altered by greedy Crooks