The Licensing Sub-Committee A of Royal Borough of Greenwich Council granted a premises licence for Stone Foundries, 669 Woolwich Road, SE7 8HL, subject to numerous conditions. The committee considered representations from various responsible authorities and an other person regarding potential impacts on licensing objectives.

Stone Foundries, 669 Woolwich Road, SE7 8HL

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a Premises Licence for Stone Foundries, located at 669 Woolwich Road, SE7 8HL, an outdoor hardstanding site. The licence permits a range of activities including live and recorded music, plays, film exhibitions, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling entertainment, and the sale of alcohol for on-sales only.

The decision was made after careful consideration of representations from the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority (Environmental Health and Community Protection teams), and an other person representing a nearby licensed business. These representations raised concerns primarily related to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance, particularly due to the site's proximity to residential areas at Atlas Gardens and Derrick Gardens.

The Metropolitan Police objected to the application, citing significant risks associated with the safe dispersal of large crowds, particularly concerning the capacity of Charlton railway station and its limited staffing during late hours. They argued that this could lead to overcrowding, congestion, disorder, and an unsustainable demand on policing resources.

The Licensing Authority's Environmental Health department also raised objections, focusing on the potential for public nuisance from noise. They highlighted concerns about the inadequacy of the applicant's submitted noise report, particularly regarding the timing and location of baseline recordings, and the flawed acoustic testing which relied on a building that may no longer exist. Environmental Health stressed the need for a robust Noise Management Plan (NMP) with strict noise limits, specifically targeting 10dB below the background noise level at nearby residential properties, and expressed doubt about the commercial viability of operating within such limits.

A nearby licensed business also objected, fearing that noise from the proposed venue could be misattributed to their own operations, causing reputational damage and unnecessary investigations.

In response to these concerns, the Sub-Committee imposed a comprehensive set of conditions on the licence. These included:

• Capacity and Event Frequency Limits: A routine daily capacity of 999 persons, with Major Events (over 1,000 persons or featuring boxing/wrestling) strictly limited in number and frequency per year.
• Safety Advisory Group (SAG) Consultation: Mandatory consultation and approval by the SAG for any Major Event or boxing/wrestling event, requiring detailed Event Management Plans (EMPs) and site plans.
• Noise Management: The requirement for a comprehensive overarching Noise Management Plan (NMP) to be approved by the Environmental Health Department, with specific conditions for Event-Specific Noise Management Plans (ESNMPs) for larger events. The NMP must detail how noise limits will be achieved and maintained at the facades of the nearest noise-sensitive properties, with agreed proxy measurement locations and acoustic metrics. Amplified sound must cease no later than 22:30 hours.
• Public Safety Measures: Conditions relating to site safety, including the approval of risk assessments for uneven terrain and a pre-approved Fire Risk Assessment (FRA). For events exceeding 1,000 persons, rigorous EMP sub-plans covering crowd management, security, medical provision, fire safety, sanitation, and transport are required.
• Transport and Dispersal: A comprehensive dispersal plan, consultation with transport stakeholders (British Transport Police, Network Rail, train operators), and specific coordination for days when Charlton Athletic FC plays home fixtures.
• Operational Conditions: Requirements for CCTV, a Challenge 25 age-verification policy, staff training, incident registers, security and stewarding, welfare and safety signage, and medical provision based on expected attendance.
• Initial Operation Controls: For the first three events, attendance is capped at 500 persons, with post-event reports required before higher capacities are permitted. Traffic marshals are required for events exceeding 500 persons.

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant agreed to conditions proposed by the Responsible Authorities and clarified that indoor activities would take place within marquees. They were satisfied that the imposed conditions were necessary and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives.

The full details of the licence conditions and the reasons for the decision can be found in the Decisions 19th-Aug-2026 18.30 Licensing Sub-Committee A.pdf.