Tim,
The link doesn't work because Lewisham changed their entire planning website. The link was correct at time of publication, but the case number is shown, so you can search for it.

I believe some of the flats are certainly occupied, you can see into the living rooms from the train. But I have not checked that every unit is occupied. It is always possible they have been purchased by an investor who thinks they will retain value better without tenants (I think I'm only joking).

Cheeky,
You are right, it could have made a lovely pub and there was lots of space. But the fact that it was in a residential area would probably have prevented it becoming a major destination pub or increasing hours to compete with the more successful pubs in the area. It was, in my opinion, always going to remain a local pub in a residential environment.

There are instances where a major fight is not worthwhile to save a little used pub, and there are other occasions where it is important to fight for pubs to remain as pubs (and community assets), as the Forest Hill Society did with the Honor Oak.

In this instance it is worth considering that the company that converted Forest Hill Hotel and the company that opened the Sylvan Post are sister companies. In effect they opened a good new pub in a more suitable location to a pub that was struggling to attract customers.