A plan to turn a Grade II-listed Lewisham snooker hall into a church will go ahead after recommendations to refuse it were dramatically overturned.
Council planning officers had misgivings about plans for the old Rileys on Lewisham High Street - an unusually designed former billiard hall first set up by the anti-alcohol Temperance Movement in the early 1900s.
Now the Tabernacle Global Ministries, currently based in nearby Algernon Road, will turn it into a church with seating for up to 800 worshippers.
Along with administration, the building will also be used as a community hall, creche and cafe.
Back in January, the church held information sessions at the old building and also talked about using it as a food bank.
Lewisham planning officers had warned the work would be detrimental to the listed building. But a planning committee approved the plans last night (September 11).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel