Harrow Council's Planning Committee has unanimously approved plans to restore and extend the locally listed Rising Sun Hotel on Greenford Road. The decision, made on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, will see the fire-damaged building retained and refurbished, with the addition of new residential units and a commercial space.
The proposal includes single and two-storey rear extensions, a new roof, and the restoration of historic elements of the building. The restoration will involve retaining and restoring the hotel's two principal facades, reinstating the southern facade, and bringing historic features such as timber gable ends and stone detailing back to life. This work aims to bring a vacant building back into beneficial use
and restore a heritage asset
. The ground floor will be used for commercial purposes, while the first and second floors will be converted into six residential flats. Additionally, two new two-storey semi-detached dwellings will be constructed at the rear of the site.
Officers recommended the application for approval, highlighting that a certificate of lawful existing development had already been granted for the commercial use of the former restaurant. The development is expected to provide eight new homes on brownfield land, restore a heritage asset, and safeguard neighbouring amenities.
The ground floor is proposed as a Class E unit, encompassing commercial, business, and service uses. To mitigate potential noise, the Class E unit will have restrictions on its use. The external fabric of the building will be designed to meet internal ambient noise levels specified in BS 8233:2014, derived from WHO Guidelines, to protect the amenities of future occupants. Furthermore, all separating walls and floors within the development will be designed to comply with acoustic performance standards set out in Approved Document E of the Building Regulations. The commercial unit will also operate with restricted opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 07:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00.
During the meeting, David O'Flynn, a resident of 1 Hussein Close, voiced concerns about potential noise, overlooking, and anti-social behaviour, stating that the period since the fire had been the most peaceful for residents. Richard Henley, the agent for the application, responded by emphasizing the collaborative engagement with planning officers and the scheme's aim to breathe new life into this extensively fire-damaged and unsafe property.
Councillor Peymana Assad, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, inquired about community safety. Officers confirmed that while anti-social behaviour is not a planning consideration, Secured by Design
accreditation would be sought to ensure building safety. A condition has been included to ensure the development seeks to achieve SBD accreditation, with evidence of certification required prior to any relevant part of the development being occupied or used.
Councillor Christopher Baxter, a reserve member, expressed sympathy for the objector but felt the proposed unit mix and overall use of the site were appropriate.
Councillor Marilyn Ashton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Chair of the Planning Committee, acknowledged the resident's concerns but noted that restrictions on the commercial unit's use would mitigate noise. She concluded that the restoration of the building and the provision of new homes were welcome developments.
The committee voted to grant planning permission unanimously, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and necessary conditions. The Section 106 agreement is expected to be completed by November 6, 2026. The development is recommended for approval subject to this agreement and conditions, with the report stating that The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.
The agreement will cover parking permit restrictions, with the development being resident permit restricted
in accordance with section 16 of the GLC (Gen Powers) Act 1974. The developer must ensure that all marketing and advertising material makes reference to this fact, and all agreements will contain a covenant stating that future occupiers and tenants (other than those who are registered disabled) will not be entitled to apply for residents' parking permits or visitor permits. Additionally, the agreement will include a revision to traffic management orders (£1,638.04), carbon offsetting, and legal fees.
For more details on the meeting, refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.