Old Chippie

[cinestep]

Now hear this!

I have just heard that an application for planning permission has been made for the building seeking listed building consent to carry out "Removal of items of special interest for storage and demolition of existing buildings...".

The idea of breaking up the shop with loss of the whole shebang is very disappointing.

The applicant will argue it is beyond repair but the argument can be seen as rather hollow. None of the modern heritage rescue techniques seem to have been proposed.

I understand that a major national conservation organisation used to dealing with damaged and vulnerable buildings and ruins is interested in acquiring the premises and running it as a heritage chippy

The owners are said to be really against the idea and have refused to allow anyone to do with this very respectable and responsible body any access to the building. This means that they can't inspect it. I hope the deadlock can be broken.

The planning reference with Ealing Council is PP/2008/1298-A When I can get some details about the proposals and reasons I will get back to you right here.

If you can visit Perceval House on Uxbridge Road you can do it for us all.

 

[cinestep]

An update...

I have not managed to learn any more about the details of the application for demolition but here is an update from Ealing Council on the application's progress.

"We have received objections from English Heritage and the Council's conservation and design team, and from the Twentieth Century Society,and at present the application cannot be approved on the basis of the information submitted".

It looks like Conservation 1 Demolition 0. Can we expect a rematch?

If I think your action is needed I hope I will be able to ask for it here.

 

[worldoftheshadows]

Thanks for the update,
Haven't been online for a few weeks and this was one of the things i was interested to check up on.
Let us know if there's any further developments

Cheers for keeping us in the loop,

Dave

 

[Foxylady]

It looks like Conservation 1 Demolition 0. Can we expect a rematch?

If I think your action is needed I hope I will be able to ask for it here.

Excellent stuff, cinestep. Ask away...it would be a real shame to see this one go...and cheers for the update.

 

[Geordie_Jon]

Pretty sure there is a coal fired chippie in Esh Winning, Durham. There was a few years ago, and it wasn't bad IIRC.

That place in Acton looks to be in relatively good nick for a place that shut over a decade ago.

 

[mineme]

well done for the photos it is a shame that this kind of thing could not of happened hear in derby IE derby hippodrome all the developer wants to do is knock it down to heal with the fact that it is listed. well done even if it just saves the interior. well worth saving if you ask me at lest it is still all there to be saved.

 

[OSPA]

What an interesting place to photograph! Great find. Im amazed at the good condition the place is in and that so much of it seems to be the original fittings/decor. Well done!

 

[cinestep]

Thanks for all the support expressed for the Old Chippie.

Today I was told that the planning application has been withdrawn because of English Heritage's objections to the proposals.

Yesterday I was told that there was a meeting between the owners and a major conservation body in the last few days. Apparently the meeting went well.

I reckon this is the best news for the Old Chippie in recent years.

Do watch this space, friends.

 

[Foxylady]

Excellent news! Thanks for the update, Cinestep.

 

[smileysal]

Brilliant news Cinestep. I'm really glad. I love this place.

Cheers,

Sal

 

[Mr Sam]

i thought id posted on this thread before obviously not maybe i saw it elsewherre

its one of those places that really desperatly needs to be saved even if its in the form of gutting it and sending the contents to somewhere like beamish at least future generations will be able to to enjoy its splendor as the brittish chippy is an icon and this is its routes!

hope you dont mind me adding this picture a chippy van at glastonbury but it reminded me of this thread just so periodly retro perfect a shame the prices werent so dated too

 

[Dutchess]

Hey hey hey! After my last (rather despondent) post about the Middlesex Hospital's sad fate, I went straight to this thread and found some very good news Good on yer, mate!

Coming from London, this place evokes memories of the traditional eel and pie shops (pie and mash) and therefore I can fully appreciate the special iconic appeal! And those fishy tiles??! I want them

Cheers.

D.

 

[cinestep]

Mr Sam, your memory is right. You did post on 15th January. Thanks for posting the mobile chippie, it is very neat.

Every effort is being made to save the Old Chippie from being gutted. Perhaps luckily no Beamish type museum could be be found for it. Then the recent listing of the building recognised its importance as a chippie out of the London pie and mash style so it really needs to stay in London. Preferably insitu, complete and open as a heritage chippie.

I hope everyone can respect its importance, it stays pikey free and it can be rescued and preserved.

 

[cinestep]

I have above mentioned that a major conservation organisation has been considering taking Burrows on. Now I have learnt that "The National Trust has come to the firm conclusion that there is no viable future for the site..." which means I can name the organisation!

The building is still listed and English Heritage is still against the building's demolition with the components being moved to a visitor attraction called "Yesterday's World" as is being sught by the owners. It sounds like a terrible fate.

 

[cinestep]

The last goodbye?

Dear Friends,
At Ealing Council's planning committee on 28 January 2009 two applications will be considered:

APPLICATION A - PP/2007/4277
1 EAST ACTON LANE ACTON W3 7HD
Demolition of existing buildings and erection of three storey frontage building containing five one-bedroom flats and refuse and recycling storage and part four and five storey building to rear containing five two-bedroom and four one-bedroom flats, formation of pedestrian and vehicular access to service vehicle turning area and two disabled car parking spaces and provision of covered +cycle storage, landscaping, gardens, balconies, roof terrace and roof gardens.

APPLICATION B - PP/2008/1298
1 EAST ACTON LANE ACTON W3 7HD
Removal of items of special interest for storage and demolition of existing buildings; redevelopment comprising a three storey frontage building containing five one-bedroom flats and refuse and recycling storage and part four and five storey building to rear containing five two-bedroom and four one-bedroom flats; formation of pedestrian and vehicular access to service vehicle turning area and two disabled car parking spaces and provision of covered cycle storage, landscaping gardens, balconies, roof terrace and roof gardens (Listed Building Consent).

The officer's recommendation is that both be approved. This will mean the end of Burrows Fish & Chips.

The committee meeting is at http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/c...s/planning_committee/20may2008-15may2009.html and the full report through the link at09 & 10 - 1 East Acton Lane PP and LBC - Report: http://www.ealing.gov.uk/ealing3/ex...09/09_x_10_-_1_East_Acton_Lane_PP_and_LBC.DOC

An extract is below.

Goodbye Burrows. Thanks for being here and your interest. Over and out from Cinesteps.

Demolition of listed building / Removal of items of historical importance

The existing three-storey building on the site fronting East Acton Lane was spot listed on the 20th February 2008 by English Heritage (Grade II). English Heritage have commented that the “special interest derives from this rare surviving example of a pre-WWII eatery and as a British Fish and chip shop, a building type of significant value to British cultural identity. The interior is unapologetically traditional in style, relating to the eel pie and mash shops of Edwardian London”. The current planning proposal (Application A) would require the demolition of the building to facilitate the residential redevelopment of this site. Therefore listed building consent is sought to remove and reconstruct the interior of the chip shop at a suitable site together with the demolition of the building.

Since the listing of the building, and the deferral of the planning application at committee on the 20th February 2008, the owners/applicants have marketed the building and have negotiated with a range of stakeholders (including English Heritage and the National Trust) in order to attempt to retain the listed building on site. Paragraph 3.16 of PPG 15 notes that whiles it is an objective of Government policy to secure the preservation of historic buildings, there will very occasionally be cases where demolition is unavoidable. In these cases, proposals should be fully scrutinised before any decision is reached.

UDP policy 4.6 states that the demolition of listed buildings is only accepted in exceptional circumstances. According to paragraph 3.17 of PPG 15, the following must be demonstrated before it is accepted that the demolition of a listed building would be acceptable:

• clear and convincing evidence that all reasonable efforts have been made to sustain existing uses or find viable new uses, and these efforts have failed, and

• clear and convincing evidence that preservation in some form of charitable or community ownership is not possible or suitable (see paragraph 3.11)

According to paragraph 3.19 of PPG 15, the following issues must also be assessed:

• the condition of the building, the cost of repairing and maintaining it in relation to its importance and to the value derived from its continued use;

• the possibility of tax allowances and exemptions and of grants from public or charitable sources;

• that real efforts have been made without success to continue the present use or to find compatible alternative uses for the building. This should include the offer of the unrestricted freehold of the building on the open market at a realistic price reflecting the building's condition, and

• the merits of alternative proposals for the site

In respect of the above, English Heritage have confirmed (letter dated 07 January 2008) that “all reasonable efforts have now been made to sustain the use or find viable new uses for the building on this site, and that no workable solution has been found. A number of economic and logistical factors preclude the building’s retention, and despite the best endeavours of the owners, EH and other key organisations, we accept that no solution is achievable.”

The property has been marketed for a period in excess of 6 months, with an offer of an unrestricted freehold on the open market at a price reflecting the building’s condition. The applicants have submitted a summary of this marketing exercise from Charrison Properties (dated 27/11/2008). The site has been formally marketed since 28/05/2008 on a national website, www.rightmove.co.uk. Charrison Properties were assisted in the accurate wording of the property by English Heritage. Charrison Properites also approached all their contacts (approximately 60 parties) of local and regional developers. Interest in the site has been very low (18 enquiries in total) and all interested and non-interested parties stated that the site would only be appealing without the restriction of a Listed building. The property was marketed at £1.35 million, £450,000 below the asking price prior to the building being listed. The Local Planning Authority considers that the marketing undertaken has been acceptable, with marketing on a national website and active pursuance of the agent’s local and regional contacts. No offers were received, not even those significantly below the asking price. It is considered that the requirements of paragraph 3.19 have been reasonably met.

The viability of the existing business has also been assessed by the National Federation of Fish Friers Limited, who in a letter to the applicant dated 10/09/2008 concluded that any attempt to re-establish the former business on the site would end in failure. With regards to preservation in some form of charitable, community or voluntary ownership, it is considered that this is not practical. The National Trust are considered to be the most likely organisation capable of taking on the site, and have indicated that they do not consider this a viable option, due to their findings that it would not be viable to re-establish a commercial operation at the site, even part-funded by wider development of the site, due to a loss of items of background interest (see response above) and due to structural issues. The Council’s Conservation section, together with English Heritage, have agreed that if the National Trust find themselves unable to take on the site, given there relatively significant resources, and experience in this field, it is considered very unlikely that any other organisation would be able to do so.

With regards to the retention of the building on site as part of some form of enabling development, the applicants have submitted a financial viability report, which concludes that options to keep the listed building through some form of enabling development would not be viable. This report includes projections of the cost of refurbishing the building. Whilst it is considered that the submitted viability report is not particularly detailed, and that it may perhaps be possible for a more imaginative approach to be taken to the options for enabling development, when coupled with a lack of market interest in the property and the lack of interest from charitable organisations, it is considered unlikely that a viable use could realistically be found for the property. Furthermore, English Heritage has commented, “the special architectural and historic interest of the site is derived from the architecture of the shop front and its interior, rather than the buildings themselves. Given the structural deficiencies of the buildings and their lack of special interest, the incorporation of a retained listed shop within new development is not considered appropriate or practical.” It is therefore considered in respect of UDP policy 4.6 and PPG 15, that the demolition of the listed building is acceptable, subject to the removal and re-construction of the shop interior to a social history museum, to be secured by a S106 legal agreement.

The applicants have submitted method statements from two companies – Rock Solid Construction Ltd and Heritage Tile Conservation Ltd, regarding the professional removal, packaging and transportation of items significant to the Listing (internal fittings, Polly Brace tiles, shop front) to be donated to Yesterday’s World (Social history museum, Kent) for storage and later recreation alongside a historic chemists shop and other historic features. Rock Solid Construction will remove the internal shop fittings and the shop frontage and Heritage Tile would remove the tiles. English Heritage have stated that they are satisfied with these arrangements, and an officer from English Heritage has visited the premises of Yesterday’s World.

THE END

 

[slothie]

or is it?

i'm sorry but thats just a cop out. what annoys the hell out of me is that you can get a £20 million pound grant to make a tent colony on dartmoor, but this piece of our past, and historic building, that shows how our favourie food has evolved, can be torn down because its "unsafe". i have never heard a bigger load of bolloxs in my life. as you state cinestep, this is the end. no it isnt. by our legal rights and constiution, you have the right to oppose and query ANY decision made by the government, be it local or national. in that case, there should be a petition made and presented to number 10 downing st. if that fails, then as i previously mentioned, a real and public protest seems to be the way to go. i pray that either the local council sees sense, and applies for a grant to renovate the existing building, or puts plans forward to remove all historical items, demolish the unsafe areas of the structure, and rebuild it as originally planned. this has happened in hull, where i live, and up and down the country aswell. i pray that you, and others decide that firm and obvious action is needed, and i for one will happily stand on the frontline and be counted. please see this as the call to arms it really is!

all the best

slothie.

 

[cinestep]

Thanks Slothie.

My anger and frustration may not have shown in my last post. It is not just a cop out its is a disgrace!

But I really don't know what else I can do. Through my actions the Twentieth Century Society, an Acton civic group, the Tile and Architectural Ceramics Society, DCMS and the National Trust have all been involved.

I said in my very first post in 2007 I would take up cudgels for this building. Now I am putting them down. If anyone wants to take up arms, please do so.

Cinestep

 

[escortmad79]

Would be a disgrace to lose this altogether.

Try contacting all of the open air museums to see whether they'd be interested in taking it:

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, Worcestershire, England
Amberley Working Museum, Amberley, West Sussex, England
Beamish, North of England Open Air Museum, Beamish, County Durham, England
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands, England
Blists Hill Victorian Town, Telford, Shropshire, England
Cogges Manor Farm Museum, Witney, Oxfordshire, England
Little Woodham, Gosport, Hampshire, England
Murton Park / Yorkshire Museum of Farming in Murton, York, England
Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Sussex, England
St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff, Wales

As well as
Bressingham museum, Diss, Norfolk
National motor museum, Beaulieu
Milestones Museum, Basingstoke
National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire, England
Summerlee Industrial Museum/Heritage Park, Scotland
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, London
Chiltern Open air museum, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks

Chiltern might be the best bet of those

SAVE THE ACTON CHIPPIE!!

 

[cinestep]

Thanks escortmad79

The two likely museum was thought to be The Museum of London, then Blists Hill. Neither could help.

If anyone here want to raise the matter with anyone else then you will have my support and the support and expertise of C20 Soc, TACS, EH and other bodies.

Thanks.