Overview

• The inspector overturned Greenwich Council’s enforcement notice and granted conditional planning permission for limited outdoor seating on the Thames Path.
• Permission hinges on a management plan governing how staff operate on the narrow section known as The Knuckle to keep a clear route for pedestrians and cyclists.
• The decision cites the need to maintain an unobstructed corridor of about 2.5 metres through the area and to mitigate risks from table service and low benches.
• More than 2,000 objections to the council’s action were recorded during the appeal, and the landlord had warned that removing seating could cost roughly 75 jobs.
• Greenwich Council said it will require strict measures to ensure accessibility for disabled people, older residents and families, while guarding against private claims on public land within a World Heritage setting.