Amalgamated Tesco store at 304-308 Creek Road, Deptford, London SE10

What was proposed

The application sought to merge two ground-floor commercial units into one Use Class E(a) unit operated by the existing Tesco Express store.

“The application is for the amalgamation of existing two ground floor commercial units into a singular unit, to create a single Use Class E(a) commercial unit.”

“It is proposed that the two existing commercial units are amalgamated into a single unit for use by the Tesco Express store which currently occupies the larger of the two units. The amalgamated unit would measure 469.44m 2 , whereas the existing Tesco Express store measures around 332.50m 2 .”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The units are in a mixed-use building on Creek Road, within Greenwich Town Centre, a conservation area and a World Heritage Site buffer zone.

“While the application site does not contain or bound any statutorily or locally listed building, it is opposite to the locally listed Nos. 320-332 (even) Creek Road. It is also within the West Greenwich Conservation Area and the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. There are no relevant Article 4 Directions applicable to the site, as the West Greenwich Article 4 Direction and the Greenwich Town Centre Article 4 Direction do not apply to this address.”

“The site is in Flood Zone 3, which suggests that it has a high probability of flooding from rivers and the sea. It has a Public Transport Access Level (PTAL) rating of 6a (on a scale of 0-6b where 6b represents the highest level of accessibility). It also falls within the Greenwich Town Centre Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) which operates Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions covered redevelopment, commercial units, shopfronts, signs and other changes, while a 2025 application to remove amalgamation restrictions was withdrawn.

“Planning application 24/3509/MA was withdrawn on 07/04/2025 for “An application submitted under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 for a minor material amendment in connection with the planning permission dated 07/06/2017 (Reference: 15/2186/V) for "Variation of condition 10 (Amalgamation of Units), condition 44 (Hours of Operation) and…”

“ITEM NO: PAGE NO: 6 condition 45 (Commercial Floor Space) of planning permission dated 18/11/2013 (Ref: 13/0364/F) to allow the proposed Gym in Block 02 to operate on a 24 hour basis." to allow: - Variation of condition 10 to remove the restriction relating to the amalgamation of the ground floor commercial units in Block 01; - Variation of condition 56 to read: “The ground floor frontage of the commercial unit within Block 01 facing onto Creek Road should be arranged as…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal would bring vacant space into use, support the town centre and could control deliveries through a condition.

“However, taking into account the economic development and town centre policies within the adopted policy framework, also noting that the subject commercial units are in a contemporary development completed in recent years and do not constitute protected shopping frontages, it is considered that the provision of a larger unit at this location would not be harmful to the overall character, vitality and viability of Greenwich Town Centre in this instance; it would not…”

“ITEM NO: PAGE NO: 17 more traditional warehouse store. Moreover, the proposal would bring vacant commercial floorspace back into active use which would improve the overall vitality of the town centre. It would also serve to diversify the range of unit sizes within the town centre as a whole.”

Officer report

Deliveries and neighbouring impact

The proposed plan increased internal cage storage, restricted deliveries to set hours and required no cages to remain outside when deliveries were not taking place.

“As part of the proposal, the majority of the floorspace to be gained from the amalgamation would be utilised for a re-configured back-of-house space to ensure sufficient storage areas. Following amalgamation, the back-of-house areas excluding the staff office would account to roughly 39% of the overall floorspace and provide storage space for 51 delivery cages. This means that the number of storage cages that can be stored in the premises would more than double.”

“In relation to waste management, it is understood from the DSP that all waste would be collected by the delivery vehicles following each delivery of goods and therefore no standard bins/refuse storage is required, as refuse would be stored within the back-of-house area on empty cages. Taking into account the supermarket/convenience store nature of the proposal, the proposed waste arrangements are considered to be reasonable in this instance.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The ward councillor, two residents and the applicant’s town planning consultant addressed the committee about delivery controls and door usage.

What members agreed

Members accepted an additional condition requiring the eastern door for servicing and deliveries and the western door solely as a fire exit.

“Members indicated that they did not require to deliberate the application and accepted the proposed additional condition stipulating use of the Eastern door only for servicing and deliveries and the Western door use as the fire exit and not ancillary to or be used for Serving and deliveries.”

Minutes

The vote

The chair’s recommendation to grant consent with the additional condition received six votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.

“The Chair put the recommendation to grant planning consent with the additional condition, as above, to the vote with – 6 Members in favour 0 Members against 0 Member abstaining…”

Minutes

The decision

Full planning permission was granted for the amalgamation, subject to the report’s conditions and the additional door-use condition.

“That Full Planning Permission be granted for the amalgamation of existing two ground floor commercial units into a singular unit, to create a single Use Class E(a) commercial unit (Resubmission).”

“Subject to the conditions, set out at Appendix 2 of the report, and the following additional condition to be detailed in the notice of determination • An additional condition stipulating that the Eastern door only is to be used for Servicing and the Western door is for use as the fire exit and not ancillary to or be used for Serving.”

Minutes