Redevelopment plan for Hartley pub in Tower Bridge Road

The Pagoda pub has stood at the corner of Tower Bridge Road and Webb Street since the late 19th century.

In 2003 The Pagoda became a gastropub called The Hartley, named after the nearby former Hartley's Jam Factory.

More recently the building has hosted a Caribbean restaurant but that has been closed since a fire in summer 2014.

Now Borough Junction (Hartley) Ltd has applied to Southwark Council for permission to redevelop the upper floors of the building as a 20-room hotel.

Under the proposals the ground floor and basement would lose its A4 (pub/bar) status in planning terms and instead have flexible A1/A2/A3/A5 use which means it could be used as a shop, estate agents, bookmakers, restaurant or hot food takeaway – almost any business other than a pub would be permissible.

According to the planning application documents prepared by Urban Hybrid Architecture, "the retention of the majority of the ground floor for 'A' class uses ... will contribute to the vibrancy and vitality of this part of Tower Bridge Road, contributing to the provision of local services and facilities as well creating local employment opportunities and making a contribution to the local economy".

The upstairs 20-room hotel is described as "a new concept in affordable, business focused short term accommodation where the philosophy is based on efficient space planning with refined quality".

• Planning application 15/AP/3159