CHIGWELL: Plans to turn former pub into flats welcomed
2:11pm Monday 29th November 2010
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RESIDENTS living near a former pub have welcomed plans to demolish it and turn it into flats.
The Bald Hind pub, in Hainault Road, Chigwell, closed in February because owner Mitchells and Butlers said it was no longer a viable business.
The building was sold to Central Investment Properties which has submitted a planning application to the council to knock it down and build a four-storey block of 14 flats.
The building is currently three-storeys.
People living near the proposed development said they would be sorry to see the Edwardian building go, but would rather see new flats instead of a pub.
They also voiced concerns about problems with parking and increased traffic.
Stewart Alexander, 55, of Linkside, said: “It’s a big loss if the building goes. It was a popular pub and will be missed.
“It is a lovely building, probably about 300 years old. But it is derelict and it needed a lot of investment if it was going to stay.
“I think there will be a problem if they build it higher than it currently is. But I would rather see flats there than something like Wetherspoons.”
He added: “Having flats there will increase the traffic on our road. If they can’t find parking or if it is gated visitors will obviously look at parking outside our houses.”
Cynthia Chaplin, 53, of Linkside, said: “It is not a listed building so it is not protected. I don’t see any problem with it being knocked down.
“The pub has been revamped several times over the last few years as a going concern. So we thought it was going to be turned into flats eventually.
“We would rather see that than a pub, because we probably only went there about 10 times in 50 years.”
Her husband Leonard, 55, said he was concerned there would be a problem with traffic at the junction of the development which meets busy Hainault Road.
He said: “It is a very busy corner of the road. It would be less dangerous if the number of flats was reduced.
“The junction is on a bus route and is the main access for emergency vehicles.
“There is the garage (next to it) with a constant flow of traffic. If there are 14 flats you would guess there would be about 28 cars there.
“More cars would increase the traffic in that corner. It will be dangerous.”
Turker Mustafa, 56, of Hainault Road, said he was concerned about the height of the development.
“If the flats are nice and they are the same size as the building is now I don’t see a problem. But if they want to go higher I can see people objecting.”
Developers Central Investment Properties said in its application it is catering for local people who may want to downsize from a big house to a flat but stay in Chigwell.
They added: “The structure was built as a bespoke pub and as such it would be difficult to convert the building to a different and viable use.”
People have 21 days to send objections or comments to Epping Forest Council.
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<!–Morris Hickey, Redbridge says… //–>
Morris Hickey, Redbridge says…
2:56pm Mon 29 Nov 10
Flats, flats, flats – more bloody flats.
Within the last couple of years Councillors Knapman and Sandler have gone on record criticising the numbers of flats being developed in the Grange Hill area. Since then at least two more developments – ON GREEN BELT LAND – have been approved, and now here comes another.
Perhaps they should have a lot more of them in Chigwell “Village” just to spread the misery a little more equally.
Flats, flats, flats – more bloody flats.
Within the last couple of years Councillors Knapman and Sandler have gone on record criticising the numbers of flats being developed in the Grange Hill area. Since then at least two more developments – ON GREEN BELT LAND – have been approved, and now here comes another.
Perhaps they should have a lot more of them in Chigwell “Village” just to spread the misery a little more equally.
<!–iu123, chigwell says… //–>
iu123, chigwell says…
3:45pm Mon 29 Nov 10
Welcomed by who? How many more flats do we need? Manor Hall, Montpelier house, and now the Bald Hind. Already there is so much congestion down Manor Road/Hainault Road with the petrol station. The site has been left to rot and was not derelict when it closed. Yes I can see the need of people downsizing, but there are already half empty blocks of apartments in Chigwell left unsold. I mourn the loss of a period building which should have been listed with something that will age horrendously.
<!–Chinwagger, HIGHAMS PARK says… //–>
Chinwagger, HIGHAMS PARK says…
4:31pm Mon 29 Nov 10
[quote][p][bold]iu123[/bold] wrote:
Welcomed by who? How many more flats do we need? Manor Hall, Montpelier house, and now the Bald Hind. Already there is so much congestion down Manor Road/Hainault Road with the petrol station. The site has been left to rot and was not derelict when it closed. Yes I can see the need of people downsizing, but there are already half empty blocks of apartments in Chigwell left unsold. I mourn the loss of a period building which should have been listed with something that will age horrendously.[/p][/quote]We need 2 million more homes in next few years because of immigration so it said last week in the daily mail so these are welcome.
<!–ClifftonX, Ongar says… //–>
ClifftonX, Ongar says…
5:13pm Mon 29 Nov 10
Same in Epping. In my lifetime, two factory sites have gone (near the station) and been turned into flats. Now, there are more flats being built next to the Treetops old people’s home. In addition, the council seem to want to give permission for 60 houses in Theydon Place – this is on green belt land. It just seems as though the council are hell bent on destroying everything that people move out of London for. As I have said before, it seems as though it is a master plan to give the middel classes a good kicking. And it is immigration that is driving this insatiable demand for housing.
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