Planning appeal decision
185 Bow Common Lane, London, E3 4JJ
Planning appeal 3339391 at 185 Bow Common Lane, London, E3 4JJ (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) was dismissed on 19 August 2024 by Inspector Butcher C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Ropery Street Conservation Area.
the change of use of ground floor and basement to a single, 5-bedroom dwelling (Use Class C3)
- Authority
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Butcher C
- Postcode
- E3 4JJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Ropery Street Conservation Area
- Whether the loss of the public house would be acceptable in policy terms
- Whether the proposed development should provide additional cycle parking spaces
What decided it
The failure to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area through the complete loss of the public house's intrinsic character at a prominent entry point, with insufficient public benefits to outweigh the less than substantial harm to a designated heritage asset.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy D.DH2Policy S.DH3Policy D.CF4Policy D.TR3Policy T5 of the London Plan 2020
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed25 June 2026600819080 Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets, London, E1 6RL
- Dismissed22 June 20266003591633 Commercial Road, London, E14 7NT
- Allowed3 February 202633694395 Hollybush Place, London, E2 9QX
- Dismissed4 November 202533702166 Woodseer Street, London, E1 5HD
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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