Newham Council’s strategic planning committee is expected to grant permission for the redevelopment of The Old Spotted Dog at a meeting this evening (December 9).
On November 21 last year, two applications were submitted by Highpride Properties Ltd for the “restoration and re-use” of the site at 212 Upton Lane.
Highpride Properties said the proposal “aims to restore and revitalise” the abandoned pub.
A council report published ahead of the meeting at 6pm today details the proposal including the removal of 20th-century features to reveal and restore the original Tudor, Georgian/ early Victorian, and late Victorian/ Edwardian elements of the building.
Internal works are also proposed to address structural issues and to restore decorative Victorian features in the Tudor parts of the building.
The 1968 ‘Tudor’ elevations and the crow’s nest mezzanine at first-floor level are to be set to be retained.
A pub garden and associated seating areas are also proposed at the front of the site along Upton Lane and to the rear.
Two new buildings are also proposed containing a total of 22 residential flats and 14 hotel rooms.
The pub is a Grade II listed building dating back to the mid 15th century and is cited as having been Henry VIII’s hunting lodge.
It closed down in 2004 and has been empty since.
The council report noted 51 responses in support and 13 objecting to the application.
Multiple objections related to loss of sunlight, loss of privacy, noise and disturbance, increased traffic and parking congestion and anti-social behaviour.
Clapton Community Football Club (CCFC), whose ground is next door, raised concerns in January about “noise disturbances from football matches and community events” as the windows of one of the proposed new flat blocks faces the football ground.
The club’s objection letter recommended reorienting these bedrooms by 180 degrees to mitigate “regular, weekly noise disturbances from the football ground” including occasional 7.30pm kick off games.
Officers commented in response that all units within this block have been arranged so that the kitchen, living, and dining areas face west towards the Old Spotted Dog football ground, while bedrooms have been repositioned to overlook the quieter communal garden to the east to reduce “potential exposure to noise disturbance”.
Re-consultation letters were issued to all neighbouring properties on in July and no further representations were received from the club.
The Old Spotted Dog Ground has been in continuous operation since 1880.
Another objection made by a resident in Macarthur Close said: “I would like to see this site redeveloped but looking at the plans for function rooms and meeting spaces, I am concerned that this development is more of an events venue e.g. for weddings rather than a regular pub.”
