Havering Council Probes Multiple Planning Breaches at Former Durham Arms Site in Romford

Havering Council is currently investigating three separate planning enforcement cases at the former Durham Arms pub site in Romford, highlighting ongoing concerns about unauthorised changes and site management.

The Durham Arms, which closed as a pub in 2019 and now operates as a venue called Ayra, has been the focus of council scrutiny following reports of unauthorised conversions and issues with the condition of the land.

Two enforcement notices served by the council last year are currently under appeal. These relate to the conversion of the first-floor accommodation into flats that do not meet minimum space standards and lack adequate mitigation against noise and disturbance from the venue below.

Planning officers have expressed concerns that the proposed flats could be adversely affected by the commercial operations of the venue, including noise from amplified music, deliveries, and customer activity. The council blocked previous plans to convert the first floor into two self-contained flats citing insufficient information to demonstrate that the flats would not compromise the viability of the pub or the amenity of future residents.

In addition to the appeals, three enforcement investigations are ongoing. One case involves the presence of untidy land and graffiti on the site, while others focus on unauthorised changes of use, including the conversion of parts of the property into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) without planning permission.

At present, Havering Council has not disclosed a timeline for resolving the enforcement cases or the appeals. The future use of the former Durham Arms site remains under close observation by both the council and local stakeholders.

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