Councillors have narrowly approved a controversial plan to build a new house on a beer garden in Charlton.
The White Swan in Charlton Village was bought by property developers Mendoza in 2015 leading to fears that the site would eventually be redeveloped as housing, but Mendoza representatives reassured the council planning committee on Thursday that the pub – albeit with a 30% reduction in its garden size – would be retained.
Councillors also raised concerns that the high rent charged by Mendoza made it difficult for the pub to make a profit, the last tenants having left earlier this year.
