Market House to Pizza House
The deadline for comments regarding Kingston’s beloved Market House is now over. However Council will accept written comments until the day before it is considered by Committee (date to be announced)
Kingston Council’s Growth committee had already agreed to grant the lease to Stables Pizza and Bar Restaurant chain, but the decision to convert this Grade 2 building into a Pizza, Pie and Cider House – albeit a posh one – has been strongly rejected by locals. The petition, put online by the current creative hub only a fortnight ago, has attracted almost 12,000 signatories and still counting.
In a nutshell, this application requests a permission for change of use from Class A1 Shop and Class A3 Cafe to Class A3 Restaurant. Other alterations are removal of the modern side staircase and internal alterations to the service area, as well as some ‘minor’ adjustments at the ground and first floor such as a new bar on the first floor and removal of an existing partition wall. More significantly to market users, there will be a rearrangement of sitting space outside the building. The current free seats in front of the building will be relocated. Signage is not submitted.
These plans have shocked and baffled anyone who lives and loves Kingston. This is not an ordinary change of use application.
Following this hostile reaction to the application, the Leader of Kingston Council blogged his thoughts. These are the highlights:
He added that however ‘many people sign the petition it cannot affect the planning application for as long as the issues in the petition do not address planning policy’.
> Our plea to the Leader of the Council and Planners
> Latest Update from the Planning Department
> Selection of Resident Letters sent to Council
> View planning application - RBK
> Sign e-petition
> Respond TODAY! - RBK
Kingston Council’s Growth committee had already agreed to grant the lease to Stables Pizza and Bar Restaurant chain, but the decision to convert this Grade 2 building into a Pizza, Pie and Cider House – albeit a posh one – has been strongly rejected by locals. The petition, put online by the current creative hub only a fortnight ago, has attracted almost 12,000 signatories and still counting.
In a nutshell, this application requests a permission for change of use from Class A1 Shop and Class A3 Cafe to Class A3 Restaurant. Other alterations are removal of the modern side staircase and internal alterations to the service area, as well as some ‘minor’ adjustments at the ground and first floor such as a new bar on the first floor and removal of an existing partition wall. More significantly to market users, there will be a rearrangement of sitting space outside the building. The current free seats in front of the building will be relocated. Signage is not submitted.
These plans have shocked and baffled anyone who lives and loves Kingston. This is not an ordinary change of use application.
Following this hostile reaction to the application, the Leader of Kingston Council blogged his thoughts. These are the highlights:
- Over the years everything the Council has attempted there has failed
- The upkeep of this building is too costly and there is no disabled access upstairs
- The current occupiers are not able to pay the real cost of tenancy and are being subsidised by a Council which is cash-strapped
- This building proved to be incapable of contributing as a historic centre or museum
- Posh ‘Cider, Pie and Pizza’ is not Pizza Hut and the applicants are happy to pay £150k plus the upkeep required.
He added that however ‘many people sign the petition it cannot affect the planning application for as long as the issues in the petition do not address planning policy’.
> Our plea to the Leader of the Council and Planners
> Latest Update from the Planning Department
> Selection of Resident Letters sent to Council
> View planning application - RBK
> Sign e-petition
> Respond TODAY! - RBK
