A derelict building on the controversial Putney Wharf development site may be transformed into a riverside pub by borough-based brewery Young's.

Brewery chiefs have agreed with St George, developers of the Brewhouse Street site, that, provided planning permission for the pub is granted, Young's will take the derelict mid-19th century Isherwood building in exchange for The Castle pub, in Putney Bridge Road.

Brewery spokesman Michael Hardman told the Borough News: "We are swapping the Isherwood building for the Castle site. Subject to planning permission, we expect to take over early next year.

"We have no intention of spoiling its character and think it is a delightful building which deserves to be preserved."

The news follows a request to the council by St George for the building to be demolished and the site developed - a move that has angered residents.

A spokesman for the developer said: "The building has been badly weakened and scarred by various additions over the years. It is now in danger of collapse.

"To try and salvage it now would result in large, unsightly areas of brickwork patching and compromise the scope for its reuse."

But Noel Stevenson, deputy chairman of the Deodar Road Residents' Association, claims the building - which the council wants to preserve - has been made unstable because of the demolition of adjacent buildings.

He said: "St George has created a situation where it has made the building unstable and now wants to build a replica, for which it has no experience.

The Putney Society's buildings' panel convenor, John Horrocks, said he told those gathered at a recent meeting between St George and the society that anyone who looked at the building could see St George had excavated the ground around it to create a basement car park, and it would appear to be unstable because of the work carried out.

"The Putney Society has always supported the council's policy to keep the building," he said.

St George's spokesman added: "St George has lots of experience in restoring and maintaining old buildings - for example the Angel Mews, in Roehampton, and Vineyard Mews, in Richmond.

"Regarding the excavation around the building, we have to maintain health and safety standards so we would not deliberately make a building unstable."

A spokesman for the council said it wanted the building to be retained.

"The issue of the Isherwood building will come to committee in June to allow for full consultation and discussions with St George," he added.

April 26, 2002 10:00