The Royal Standard pub in Greenwich will be converted into six flats after failing to attract new owners.
The plans didn’t need a councillor vote. Only seven people had voiced objections. They worried about losing the historic pub and also felt the new homes were too dense.
The Royal Standard is quite old, having first opened over 150 years ago. Sadly, it closed back in 2020.
They initially proposed seven flats in August 2023, but the plan changed to six flats later on. Almost all of the flats will have one bedroom.
Work should start this May and is expected to finish by January next year.
The pub was for sale as such since May 2021. The initial rent was £50,000 yearly, but no one offered to run the pub then.
The rent later dropped to £25,000 a year. This lower price did get “some interest”, but the pub still got no takers.
Planning officers thought it was “no longer viable” and felt losing it was fine. London’s rules permit it, they argued. The officers also stated a conversion to flats helps meet housing goals.
Ground floor and first floor additions were also approved, as these wouldn’t be too large or imposing, they added. The new plan would fit the area’s feel and provide quality living for residents. It also wouldn’t negatively affect neighbors.