Plans to create a new riverside pub beside the Cutty Sark in Greenwich have been refused due to fears it would harm the appearance of the historic area.
The proposal would have seen a new pub established by the River Thames, close to where the Cutty Sark ship stands in Greenwich town centre.
The pub, called the Ship Tavern, would have occupied the empty building on Greenwich Pier which was previously occupied by Byron and Frankie & Benny’s.
The site on the Thames Path lies beside the Old Royal Naval College and near the historic clipper in Cutty Sark Gardens, both of which are Grade I-listed buildings. Other nearby riverfront buildings are occupied by chain restaurants Zizzi and Nando’s.
The applicant, Greenwich Pier Lease Limited, lodged an appeal for its proposal after Greenwich Council reportedly took too long to make a decision, leaving the responsibility to the Planning Inspectorate.
The decision report claimed the applicant had described the existing building on the site as being in “poor condition”, but the inspector said they did not feel the building was detrimental to the area.
They instead described the site as “a neat, orderly and unobtrusive building, which makes no less than a neutral contribution to the character and appearance of the Greenwich Park Conservation Area, and to the setting of the nearby listed buildings”.
The proposed pub would have featured a new outdoor raised seating area and a glazed pergola added to the roof terrace.
The inspector cited concerns that the steel structure to support the glazing would be visually intrusive and jarring, and cause “considerable harm” to the current structure and setting.
“The proposed pergola structure above the roof terrace would add bulk to the building, leading to the loss of the stepped down form and a weakening, or removal, of the visual balance between the appeal building and the eastern pavilion,” they said.
The applicant defended the design choice, saying a neighbouring building had timber pergolas and parasols. Greenwich Council responded by saying such structures on the nearby building were not authorised.
The inspector claimed these neighbouring features were not particularly sympathetic to the nearby building, but appeared smaller than the ones proposed for the pub. They also criticised the fabric canopies proposed to be fitted above the entrance to the pub as being incongruous with the modern building.
Greenwich Council claimed in its appeal statement that the authority would have refused permission for the new pub for fear of it being out of character with the nearby area, and the effect it would have on the movement of cyclists and pedestrians using the pier.
The Planning Inspectorate dismissed the authority’s concern about the pub impeding individuals using the pier, claiming the outdoor seating area would not interfere with the safe and free movement of cyclists and pedestrians.
