Morleys,a stalwart of shops in south London,has closed a branch in Tooting leaving residents worried about what might replace it (Pic: Alamy Stock Photo)
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Residents said they have been left worried after a London council approved plans to turn a former department store into a 92-bedroom hotel.
Morleys,in Tooting,south London,shut its doors in April after their owners said they weren’t able to justify the cost of keeping it open.
Criterion Capital,a real estate company which has hotels in Piccadilly,Tottenham Court Road,Greenwich and Knightsbridge,applied in June for planning permission to convert the site into the hotel and three retail units.
The application received 28 objections from residents and businesses nearby,while more than 400 signed a petition against the redevelopment.
Despite objections from local residents,the application was approved last week at a planning committee meeting.
Residents have now hit out at the plans – and said they fear it will be converted into temporary housing instead.
Jack Gebhard,who lives nearby,told Metro: ‘Given the strength of feeling against this hotel its approval feels like another slap in the face for local residents.
‘We are already well-served for hotels here so you have to wonder where they’re going to get the demand from.’
Jack Gebhard said he’s not happy about the plans to turn a former icon of Tooting’s high street into a hotel (Picture: Jack Gebhard/Metro)
In several objection comments,locals said they had ‘little trust that the site won’t be sold off once planning is granted and repurposed for alternative uses.’
Jack added: ‘Another site was granted planning permission to become a hotel nearby on the promise of serving the local hospital. But before a single guest was able to stay there,its use was changed.
‘Residents have zero confidence the same won’t happen here and who can blame them?’
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Criterion Capital was approached for comment.
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