‘Much loved’ Mitcham pub to see five-storey block redevelopment
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to redevelop a “much loved” pub have been approved by the local council.
The King’s Arms in London Road, Mitcham, along with a neighbouring cafe, will see a five-storey block of 26 bedrooms which share communal spaces built in a rear extension of the existing buildings.
The rooms are expected to include en suite shower rooms, but residents would share three communal kitchens.
The plans would move a function room of the existing pub from the first floor to the basement.
But the Mitcham Society said the planned new block “smacks of greedy overdevelopment” and would obscure the King’s Arms.
An objection comment from the group said: “The King’s Arms is a historic and much loved feature in Mitcham Village. It’s facade is instantly recognisable by local people, and it is a local landmark.
“The pub is locally listed, giving formal recognition of its importance to both Mitcham Village and the wider borough of Merton.”
Merton council previously approved plans for shared flats with eight rooms and two communal kitchens in 2019, but the developer didn’t go ahead with those plans.
The latest planning application said the new development would be popular with business people wanting a “reasonably priced and simple lifestyle right in the heart of Mitcham town centre”.
It also impacts the cafe at 258 London Road, which the developer said would be extended as part of the development.
The plans from Ashira Holdings said: “The King’s Arms public house on the ground floor would remain and a new kitchen, function room and store room would be located in the basement replacing the former function room and kitchen on the first floor.
“The proposal also includes a fully glazed covered seating area within the public house garden. This would be accessed from the bar area and would provide a considerable enhancement to the facilities offered by the public house.”
Pictured top: A CGI of the new block next to the Kings Arms in Mitcham (Picture: HSP Architects/ Ashira Holdings Ltd)