ROMFORD CONSERVATION AREA

ROMFORD CONSERVATION AREA
An excellent scholarly restoration of the Woolpack pub building (more recently "Secrets" nightclub) in the High Street has been approved. An application has been received for a high-quality conservation based restoration of the façade of one of the Victorian shops in the High Street almost opposite this. The owners of Quadrant Arcade have appealed to the National Planning Inspectorate against the Council’s refusal of their recent planning application. This was refused on the grounds of negative visual impact on Romford Conservation Area among other factors. A change of use from a bank to a restaurant has been granted for the Lloyds Bank building at the junction of the Market and North Street. This application does not affect the visual appearance of the building. A further application will need to be made to convert the building to its new use, and at that stage the Council will pay close attention to maintaining the fabric and fittings of the building. Should the applicants want seating outside then they will need to apply for planning permission. An application has been made to restore the façade of the Post Office building in South Street (currently Brannigans night club) to its original appearance. At the time of writing the quality and veracity of this restoration had not been assessed by the Council as part of the planning process.
 An application to redevelop the façade of the former Littlewoods shop facing onto the Market was altered by the applicants so that it accorded with conservation advice. We have brought our concern at the length of time that the banners have been hanging on the Golden Lion to the attention of the Council. The Council has been successful in gaining funding from Transport for London to make the street environment in Romford Conservation Area more sympathetic to the historic significance of the place.