The Waterloo phone box can be converted into a cafe

A disused telephone box in Waterloo can be turned into a cafe, a planning inspector has ruled.

Lambeth Council turned down proposals to fit out the Grade II listed structure on Baylis Road in Waterloo with a coffee machine and mini fridge last year.

But a government-appointed inspector overturned the council’s refusal on appeal. In its original letter of refusal, Lambeth argued that the loss of the telephone and other paraphernalia from the structure would “impair the understanding of the box’s function” and “erode its interest”.

The council also expressed concern that the new fittings would be visible from the outside of the phone box and “would affect an appreciation” of its design. But in their appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, Saira Iqbal and Bilal Hassan argued the proposed changes would not change the appearance of the phone box in any way that would be “at odds with the traditional character and structure of the kiosk”.

They added that they aimed to bring the red phone box to life with their proposal.

Cullum Parker, the planning inspector for the case, said the changes would not be “particularly intrusive” to the building and accepted their appeal.

Explaining his decision, he said: “In relation to the proposed use as a cafe, I acknowledge the council’s concern that this would be a historic use of the building.

“Ideally, the historic use as a telephone box would best reflect the original design intent of the building. However, it is clear that the use of the protected building for telecommunications is no longer considered necessary by the telephone providers, as no evidence of this has been presented to me.

“In the absence of such demand (which is not surprising given the dominance of mobile phones), it makes sense to consider alternative uses for the heritage asset.”

The cast iron telephone box was designed in 1927 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. It is one of nine listed telephone kiosks in Lambeth.