Greenwich planning staff recommend demo of listed Plumstead air raid shelter

A listed air raid shelter in Plumstead located on the grounds of the Plume of Feathers pub could be demolished if councillors follow guidance of their planning officers next week.

An application was submitted – covered in January 2022 – to convert the listed pub building into housing while retaining a pub space, with the applicant also seeking to build upon an air raid shelter outside.

A report states:

“The Council’s Conservation Officer has reviewed the submissions and set out that in the host context, the shelter reflects on the social military history of the locality but it is utilitarian in character and its architectural contribution is limited.

The conservation officer submits that whilst it is part of the history, its retention is not considered to be sustainable in order to refuse a sensitively designed ‘enabling development opportunity to restore a Grade II Listed Public House and safeguarding not only the setting of the Public House but limiting the visual impact on the wider character of the Plumstead Common conservation Area.”

They conclude that the benefits of the overall scheme outweigh the downsides.

The report states in regards to the air raid shelter:

“The conservation officer goes on to set out that given the utilitarian nature of the air-raid Shelter, whist it may be modestly significant in terms of local, social and military history, it is simple in character, and it does not retain any significant interior or architectural merit and in current day [does not] provide any positive function in the host context.”

The applicant is somewhat well known for demolishing a pub in Belvedere that contravened a number of safety laws, for which they were fined.

Balmonza knocked down Bexley borough’s oldest pub in an unsafe manner resulting in a £20,000 fine. The sole director – who was also fined – of that company is the sole director of Dhadda Estates Ltd behind the Plume of Feathers plan.

One variant of Dhadda – Dhadda Estates Ltd – was established in 2015. Another named Dhadda Housing was established in 2016 and dissolved in 2017.

The Plumstead site has been a dumping ground on occasion.

The Plume of Feathers car park, Plumstead, has taken on a second use – some folk think this is acceptable. pic.twitter.com/lEGJrsqyi9

— Prof Richard Norman 💙 (@RKN07) May 28, 2021

The pub is Grade II listed though has seen a number of alterations over the years. It closed a few years ago and in 2020 the applicant sought a restaurant and takeaway on site, before the latest application was submitted.

The meeting to decide upon plans is set to be held on Tuesday 12th July.