The Whitesmiths Arms is an attractive small Victorian pub in the Borough area of London, close to the Shard. In addition to the main bar, the pub had a small beer garden to the side.
We were advised that it would be impossible to obtain change of use to residential and, in any event, the layout of the building did not lend itself to a conversion into flats.
We took extensive planning advice and were told that in exceptional circumstances where there are many other similar uses close by, the council would not object to a pub being converted to residential. In some other boroughs, there is a blanket ban on such a change.
The property went to best bids in early 2013and our bid was successful. Completion took place at Easter. We immediately applied for planning permission and received permission to convert the property to one house by late summer. We were offered a profit by another developer equating to approximately 50% so sold the property by mid autumn.