Planning appeal hears final evidence on Stepney housing scheme ‘encroachment’ on George Tavern
Final planning hearing at Tower Hamlets Town Hall to determine future of Swan Housing's scheme next to George Tavern [picture: Aaron Walawalkar] - Credit: Archant
The final public hearing opened today in the nine-year legal battle to stop developers “encroaching” on east London’s historic George Tavern music venue.
Government inspector Christina Downes is reviewing last summer’s Appeal Court decision which threw out Swan Housing’s planning application for a block of six flats in Stepney.
The court rejected the scheme because the proposed flats in the Commercial Road would blot out natural light from the pub next door.
The noise from pub gigs could also jeopardise its 3am music license.
Today’s hearing, held at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, has been re-examining evidence previously presented in the long-running dispute that began in 2008.
The planning inspector was also aiming to go on a site visit to The George in the Commercial Road.
Pub Landlady Pauline Forster is backed by Tower Hamlets council which has already rejected Swan’s scheme.
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She was joined by the authority’s planning officer and a noise consultant in presenting her case, as well as nine pub regulars supporting her campaign after a Twitter appeal for “solidarity”.
Swan Housing wants to get last year’s Appeal Court decision overturned which backed The George.
