The Lord Raglan pub in Woolwich could be transformed into a 16-room 'aparthotel' after the site spent 16 months on the market without a single formal offer to take over its operation. A fresh planning application has been submitted to Greenwich Council, marking the second attempt to convert the pub at 158 Burrage Road.
New application follows previous refusal
The previous application, which proposed an 18-room complex, was refused in April. Greenwich planners deemed that the double-storey extension to the rear of the pub would 'fail to respect the character' of the building and that its height would impose on three nearby homes. The new application has been reduced to 16 rooms, but the applicant, Raglan Woolwich Ltd, still intends to add an extra floor on top of the two-storey pub and reconfigure 160 Burrage Road to become a flat for the aparthotel's manager.
Pub to reopen as part of the plan
The Lord Raglan would be brought back into use under the proposals. According to planning documents, the pub was on the market for 16 months at a cost of £50,000 per year, but no formal offers were received. One operator interested in establishing a late-night shisha bar was considered unsuitable due to the residential nature of the area. The pub 'generally attracted' interest from parties looking to run a smaller retail business or redevelop the property entirely.
The proposed change of use to an aparthotel would allow the pub to reopen. Michael Penfold, director of pub property specialist AG&G, said: 'We believe that the proposed 18-bedroom aparthotel would enhance the appeal of the pub as it could help serve the aparthotel customers with a dedicated food and beverage offer.' He added that the lack of living accommodation above the pub would be addressed by offering a two-bedroom house next door for any ingoing tenant to lease.
Design changes to mitigate impact
In response to the previous refusal, one of the first-floor extensions has been set back to lessen the impact on 28 to 30 Raglan Road. Planning documents argue that the proposal has 'positive merit' and is 'in keeping with other corner sites' in the area. They also state that the accommodation will benefit the pub below, which will continue to operate, and will meet the local need for temporary accommodation for professionals working in the area.
The planning application can be viewed on Greenwich Council's planning portal under reference 26/1669/F.
