Forum Topic

New wooden structure outside Laveli's, South Parade

Has anyone noticed the wooden structure being put up outside Laveli's on South Parade? It looks like a giant wooden box on its side, with an opening towards the west. It may be intended as a shelter for customers in the winter.  The shop is tiny and social distancing and air quality control must be impossible. On Saturday the door was shut, presumably because of the cold. There were people sitting inside and the usual fug on the windows.There is no sign of a planning application on the Ealing website. Does a structure like this need planning permission? It surely can't be right that something so out of keeping and an eyesore can just be allowed without consultation?What is more important is that it blocks the view for drivers and cyclists turning into or out of St Alban's Avenue. That junction is already a tricky one and often congested. Not being able to see what's coming will make it worse.I have photos but don't know how to upload them.

Liz Thornton ● 2223d14 Comments

Have you been in to ask them I'm sure they would be happy to put you in the picture if you are worried.

Helen Whitman ● 2223d

I should think they need planning permission.  Do you remember the fuss about the cafe in Bedford Park Corner that erected a covered outside area without planning permission?  Eventually they had to remove it, as retrospective permission was not granted.  I suggest you contact Ealing Planning Dept or your local councillor if you have concerns.

Lucy Chambers ● 2223d

I did think about asking in the shop, but I don't think the staff there will know about details such as planning procedures. The Bedford Corner issue did come to mind and that was what made me wonder about planning permission. This seems to be similar. I will contact Ealing and our local councillors. Thanks.

Liz Thornton ● 2222d

I meant perhaps go into the shop and say 'Can I ask you what you are building' go straight to the source it's not a technical question just a straight forward enquiry.

Helen Whitman ● 2222d

It's a difficult time for business at the momentMaybe they are thinking about the winter and there customersAsk before you give the council a call.

Jon morris ● 2222d

You’re right. The people that work there are not answerable for  the owners’ actions. I think it reasonable to ask the wider community on the forum and then ask LBE.

Stewart Jones ● 2222d

Planning permission will almost certainly be required, but as others have suggested it might be prudent in the first place, if you have significant concerns, to pop in and have a word with the business operators.  I'm not (in part because professionally I can't) condone anyone who breaches planning control, but it might be that they are in the process of applying for planning permission - many times in my LPA days small businesses would submit applications which were woefully lacking in detail or accurate plans and it would then take several weeks of dialogue between the LPA and the business for a valid application to be submitted.Or they might tell you where to go, in which case you then have no qualms about going to the Council.

Adam Beamish ● 2222d

Yesterday I asked the person working in the shop what it was and she said that it was a Kiosk to sell from outside.  I didn't ask about permissions, etc.

Catherine Sutherland ● 2222d

Temporary relaxation of planning rules permit pubs, cafes etc to use outdoor space for customer seating. Perhaps this structure is designed to utilise these rules to provide outdoor sheltered seating?

John Connelly ● 2222d

Yes I did consider that John - the temporary legislative changes don't allow for permanent structures, but it might be a short-term measure (albeit strictly speaking unauthorised) associated with them.I can only see the structure being considered a hazard to highway safety if it projected right over the entire frontage of the site up to the pavement.

Adam Beamish ● 2222d

Laveli's was sold last November, so this is the new owners decision one assumes.The lovely manageress has kept the the shop open all through lockdown on her own - the rest of the staff were furloughed.This is such a lovely meeting place with outside tables which of course are now reduced and this dreadful looking cabin, which, if it is here to stay requires proper decoration.

Janice White ● 2222d

I think it's for the nannies while their wards are inside eating cake?

Basil Finnis ● 2222d

Apparently run separately to Laveli’s, not for coffee/bread etc Could be doing Crepe’s, hot food.... this is what I was told when asked inside.

Suzanne Taylor ● 2222d

Thanks for all the comments. I decided against asking inside, as I'm sure the staff at the counter won't know anything about the legalities or otherwise of these things. They are there to serve food. In the end I sent an email to Ealing with copy to the local councillor, who has now passed it on to the Planning Regulator at Ealing. I would expect something like an outdoor kiosk to need planning permission. What about smells wafting around if they are going to be serving hot food? There are flats above all the shops in that row and I would assume that the occupants would have a right to be consulted.I would be surprised if it is designed as a temporary structure. It is sitting on a fairly solid slab which has just been laid specially. As regards obstructing views, it wouldn't be so bad if it had transparent - glass or perspex perhaps - walls. But I still think it's out of keeping and in the wrong place, whether or not it needs permission.

Liz Thornton ● 2222d