Victorian Society objects to demolition of Britannia pub

Last month we reported on plans to knock down the two-storey Victorian pub and replace it with a block of six flats incorporating a modern pub.

Now the Victorian Society has commented on the planning application (17/AP/1007) which is currently being considered by Southwark planners.

"We​ ​strongly​ ​object​ ​to​ ​the​ ​demolition​ ​of​ ​The​ ​Britannia​ ​public​ ​house,​ ​which​ ​would​ ​deprive​ ​the​ ​area​ ​of a​ ​locally​ ​significant​ ​building​ ​and​ ​diminish​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​and​ ​character​ ​of​ ​its​ ​streetscape,"​ ​writes​ ​James Hughes,​ ​senior​ ​conservation​ ​adviser​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Victorian​ ​Society.

"The​ ​Britannia​ ​is​ ​a​ ​modest​ ​but​ ​attractive​ ​and​ ​well​ ​preserved​ ​Victorian​ ​public​ ​house​ ​with​ ​pleasing polychromatic​ ​elevations​ ​of​ ​red​ ​and​ ​stock​ ​brick.

"The​ ​chamfered​ ​north-western​ ​corner​ ​recalls​ ​the​ ​pub's​ ​prominent​ ​and​ ​historic​ ​corner​ ​site​ ​and​ ​is​ ​a reminder​ ​of​ ​the​ ​area's​ ​altered​ ​street​ ​pattern.

"It​ ​is​ ​the​ ​best​ ​and​ ​almost​ ​the​ ​last​ ​historic​ ​building​ ​in​ ​the​ ​immediate​ ​vicinity​ ​and​ ​one​ ​that,​ ​in​ ​the
interests​ ​of​ ​maintaining​ ​the​ ​character,​ ​quality​ ​and​ ​identity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​area,​ ​should​ ​certainly​ ​be​ ​retained."