An appeal has been filed after a proposal to replace a historic snooker hall with flats on a high street was rejected by Havering Council.

It comes after a planning application sent on behalf of Parkhall Estates on April 3, to determine whether the site of the snooker hall can be used to build five apartments, was refused.

The hall was occupied by Knights Snooker and Pool Club until July last year when it was forced to shut down after 90 years of running.

The building, located in High Street, Hornchurch, comprises of ground floor commercial units, with the snooker hall on the first floor and residential flats on the second.

Evren Omer, owner of Knights Snooker and Pool Club, had earlier told the Recorder it wanted to remain in the building where it was based, according to its website, since the 1930s.

He said the lease had run out, and so, despite consulting with legal representation, there was nothing the club could do.

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A first planning application was sent by Parkhall Estates in January last year, but it was turned down by the council in March.

The authority also rejected a second proposal sent in April this year.

A council report on the latter said this was because the scope of development included external alterations to existing ground and first floor levels that was not permitted under regulations.

The plans, the report said, would fail to provide “adequate level of light” and would result in “poor living conditions” for future occupants of the flats.

It added that the proposal did not have enough information with respect to refuse and recycle collection and also concluded that the development could have an adverse impact upon the free flow of traffic and the safety of the highway condition.

An appeal challenging it was filed by Parkhill Estates on Wednesday (October 18).

A decision on the appeal is expected to be taken by written representations. Detailed planning documents related to it can be found on the council’s website: https://development.havering.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/appealDetails?appeal=4357&back=no  .