They'd never make any money after paying all the fines their motorbikes incur for being in the bus lane/yellow box. It's a nightmare round there!

My objection was to the application submitted to the council and (in my opinion) it's clear of compliance with planning policy. Whether I desire the applicant's business or not is pretty much irrelevant to the planning decision.

Speculating on how I would react to a hypothetical application is not something I spend my time thinking about. When somebody else applies we'll see how honest I am.

If I think any future application complies with planning policy, is a good design and an appropriate use of the building then I will write in support just as quickly as I would write to object - I have done so in the past for several other local applications on the HOP parade.

Planners, as I understand it, have to make factual interpretations of planning policy. There is little allowance, if any, for editorial opinion otherwise the decision would be open for appeal.

Joffe
I tend to agree.
Barcar
Why should Domino's want your help finding alternative sites. I guess they have agents for that.

What business are you actually looking for ?

The reason it's helpful to assist Dominos with their locating a suitable site is because they tried, and failed, to do so previously. As a multinational corporation, their agents may not be as aware of suitable locations as people who actually live in HOP/FH. I think a local branch could be good for the area, just not in that location. Fortunately the planners agree.

Brian, Did I offer my help to Dominos?

The site is currently zoned for use as a restaurant. That's fine by me. But I would be open to any proposal so long as it was compliant with planning policy which, as I previously stated as nauseum, the Dominos application wasn't.

I had heard this was to become an Indian Restaurant, but will double check.

Great news about the declined application from Domino's. Fingers crossed one of the other businesses who also put in an application to the landlords to take on The Old Bank site will be accepted and we'll have a successful 'community friendly' outlet up and running soon.

Good effort to those who worked the hardest to make this happen, you and everyone else on here knows who you are, well done. I am personally extremely happy with this outcome and can still see bright things ahead.

...and BarCar, I wouldn't waste any more time and effort on responding to the minority, it'll only wind you up more.

Big thanks again

Great news indeed. Agreed with Cheeky.

I think I'd feel quite patronised if I was working for Dominoes and some local people who fought tooth and nail to stop the business moving to the area came to me and said '....but there are some suitable sites that we'd love you to move into'.

Honestly, who are we to decide what's a suitable site? As a multinational organisation, they probably don't take advice off the locals. They know perfectly what is and what isn't a suitable site as they have data on all their branches and employ people to suggest where would be a good place to be. They obviously did their job properly as The Old Bank (at least from their perspective) would've been a great place to be.

But we shouldn't be too surprised if they're not too interested in our specialised local knowledge which recommends to them a run down back street cafe that hasn't seen hide nor hare of a business since the last fried chicken outlet bit the dust due to 'lower than expected demand'.

Lack of consideration for local opinion is exactly how they got into this situation. Their criteria for site suitability clearly cannot be relied upon since they selected a site which is not compliant with planning policy. Perhaps they need new agents?

Lets move on and focus on supporting all of the local businesses.

Agreed it's great news. I was personally against it in terms of the delivery motorbikes whizzing up and down what's already a busy street with traffic restrictions on most of the side roads, rather than being some kind of 'snob' who doesn't want a pizza place in the area. Please don't make too many assumptions, Joffe. Also it seems like arguing in favour of it now on this site is a little late. This discussion on the pros and cons should have happened weeks ago surely! It's a bit like not voting and then complaining about the government that gets into power. Of course, that's assuming you didn't send in your letter of support for Domino's opening in the area....?

So - a serious question - is planning policy so rigid that a premises cannot ever have a change of use? And if so, what was the point in protesting? It would never have got past the authorities anyway??

Will the old bank always be the old bank (restaurant use only) until the planning officers decide it'll be better if it were made into flats?

Firstly let me congratulate all concerned on the 'battle' to stop Dominoes. I have to say I admire the tenacity of all involved, though I do feel that this tenacity was brought onto this forum when other members raised questions / doubts about why the objections and the motives behind them. It could be tin hat time sometimes.
I did raise my issues on here a long time back, mainly that to stop Dominoes was to take away potential employment opportunities for the young in the area. So I hope that these other potential tenants that have been mentioned do take the site, that way other employment opportunities will arrive there.
Must admit that I worry that they wont be forthcoming, well there will be inquiries, but with the landlord asking for rents that I have seen previously mentioned, there might not be takers. It is tough out there for new small start-ups and even more established businesses, I do hope it's still not empty in 18 months.
Sorry, less of the doom and gloom, now is the time for you to revel in your victory, so I send again to all concerned, my congratulations on your victory.

"ruthb Wrote:
I think someone already suggested it but an excellent location for a Dominoes would be the empty Angle Bar on corner of Brockley Rise and South Circular - plenty of room for bikes and ideal as a take-away/delivery service I would have thought. "

I don't know if the local residents in that area would be too pleased with the suggestion that Dominoes move in. Whilst I totally understand the objections to Dominoes moving to the Old Bank site, I think you have to be careful by suggesting other potential sites not on your own doorstep as it does sound a lot like NIMBYism. That South Circular junction is a nightmare for pedestrians already, a load of delivery bikes would make it even worse. On the other hand an empty property is not good either.

I think one of the reasons the Old Bank failed was not just rents but also the standard of food and service - had a dreadful experience the last time I ate there and vowed never to return.

Planning policy allows for change of use so long as the application complies with other relevant policies. That's where this application failed.

I was told that the flat occupants above the Angle Bar premises complained, when it was an Indian restaurant, about the strong odours from the extractor fans. The council sided with the flats. So the restaurant stopped cooking food and became a (short-lived) bar. Makes me wonder why the council gave planning permission in the first place.

If Dominos were to move there, I would expect similiar objections.

Very good news indeed, let's hope the HOP parade will benefit from a diverse and well-used mix of businesses long term.

Dominos would have put a few of the existing HOP shops out of business, would have been an eyesore in a prominent position in an otherwise lovely building, would have caused noise nuisance to nearby residential areas and quite possibly a lot of rusbbish in the street, and considering the local community put so much effort into opposing it, it's fair to say that it would have mostly served communities around HOP, not HOP itself.

Oh, and Joffe - are you really trying to compare John Lewis employment to Domino bike drivers in the "jobs for our youths" stakes? Seriously? Last time I checked, John Lewis trained their staff, gave them well above minimum wages with contracts and a shareholding in the partnership. Domino's are welcome to open their take-away somewhere in SE23, there is clearly a demand for their pizza. They have their place. But presenting their potential presence here as a ray of hope for local employment really takes the biscuit. Just my humble opinion, of course.

Tinkerbell

If you are saying DP's would have put a lot of existing businesses out of business , are you infact saying many locals would use it.

The battle has been won for the moment but surely real victory only secured when an approved company moves in to the premises.

I live very close to the old bank, I am very pleased with this outcome as I will not be kept awake by motorcycles scooting around until midnight outside our front door. I am not a snob. Joffe you are becoming boringly argumentative.