Wandsworth Council has have refused a planning application to allow the conversion of a retail unit in Wimbledon Park Road into homes.
The plans would have seen Sunny’s Newsagent in Southfields turned into residential accommodation.
Councillors ruled that changing the use from retail to residential would have been “undesirable” because of the impact of “the loss of this important neighbourhood shop”.
Planning chairman Cllr Sarah McDermott said: “The committee took the firm view that the loss of this important local shop would have a negative impact on this part of Southfields.
“The committee heard evidence of the many different community services it offers local people, and on that basis we could not support an application that would lead to its replacement by a residential unit.”
Earlier this month the council agreed to designate Sunny’s as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), reflecting its contribution to the social fabric in the area.
This designation means that if the current owners wish to sell the building they must give the local community the chance to buy it. The listing gives local residents a six month window in which to raise sufficient funds to purchase it.
