A landlord who built studio flats above a former pub in Leyton without council permission was granted a HMO license yesterday. The decision comes amid considerable local concern about antisocial behaviour and the building’s future, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

The Antelope in Church Road, Leyton, Credit: Google Streetview

The upstairs of a former pub in Leyton will remain as housing, despite residents’ concerns about the venue’s future.

More than 80 objections were submitted to Waltham Forest Council over the plans for the Antelope, which closed to the public in mid-2014.

In the years since, the first and second floors have been converted into a house in multiple occupation (HMO), for residents who live together but are not members of the same household.

Each floor contains five rooms, complete with en-suite bathrooms and a communal landing.

At a planning committee meeting last night (3rd June), the landlord successfully sought permission to keep the HMO in operation and retrospective permission for the en-suites.

In 2015, the council ruled that converting the rooms into self-contained units without the appropriate approval had been unlawful, and a subsequent appeal to the Planning Inspectorate came in the council’s favour.

During a visit in June 2022, enforcement officers found the building was again being used as an HMO and not a collection of private flats. An application was submitted earlier this year to formalise its use.

At the meeting, residents living nearby said the conversion had led to an increase in disorder – including the alleged use of drugs – but the council said these were civil matters and not the responsibility of the planning department.

A representative for the landlord argued the formal conversion would give the council “greater power” to manage the HMO, which meant improved security and overwatch.

He said using the upstairs for housing “prolonged” the historic building’s existence and “gave it purpose”.

During the meeting, residents also lamented that the ground floor of the building, which houses the pub, had “deteriorated” over the years.

One local, speaking on behalf of an action group comprising 745 members, said the Antelope was “more than just bricks and mortar” but its future was “not being addressed”.

Another said residents wanted to see the Antelope, which dates back to the late 1800s, brought back to life as a social hub. He said both pubs and cafés were “lacking” in the area.

A total of 85 people lodged formal objections against the scheme.

However, they were told the future of the pub was outside the council planning committee’s current scope. The application specifically referred to the HMO on the first and second floor – the ground floor was excluded from the plans.

Committee chair Jenny Gray said the council “supported and applauded your efforts to use your local pub,” adding: “There are people who can assist. It has been done before.

“The council will help you, but this issue was just about the top two floors.”

The town hall has twice named the Antelope an ‘asset of community value’ in recognition of its contribution to social wellbeing. The designation will expire in March 2026, unless it is renewed.

The six committee members voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.

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