Plan Submitted to Turn China Boulevard Site into Offices
Landmark riverside restaurant had closed before coronavirus outbreak
China Boulevard restaurant Picture: Google Streetview
There looks set to be one less opportunity to dine by the river in Wandsworth after an application was submitted for a change of use at the site of a landmark restaurant.
China Boulevard on Smugglers Way closed before the coronavirus outbreak and now there is a proposal to turn the building into office space. It was a large restaurant with a mezzanine level overlooking a central downstairs dining area offering Chinese food including dim sum.
The restaurant was popular because of its prime riverside location but received mixed reviews for its food.
It is thought likely that a significant number of restaurants will not reopen after lockdown so there may be more applications to change the use of buildings. However, the council has also recently received an application to change a former bank site on Wandsworth High Street into a restaurant.
The planning application for the China Boulevard site has been submitted by an Isle of Man based company for a change of use at Unit 1 Dolphin House from a restaurant restaurants (Class A4) to office/business (Class B1). The application number is 2020/0892.
Wandsworth Council’s web site states that 45 neighbours have been consulted about the plan. The validity of some planning applications made during the coronavirus outbreak has been questioned by some as the council are placing statutory notices in a newspaper which is not currently circulating in the area which is required by law. It is feared that this may lead to legal complications for applicants later on in the process.
April 29, 2020