A community campaign calling for a landmark building to remain a pub has prompted a move to protect similar licensed premises in Waltham Forest.

The site of Heathcote Arms, in Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, which closed last month after it was sold to developer Equity Real Estate, is set to become subject to an Article 4 Direction after 700 people signed a petition in an attempt to stop it being converted.

This removes any automatic right of the owner to change the building into a business such as a supermarket and classifies it as an 'Asset of Community Value'.

Now council leader Chris Robbins, who represents Grove Green ward, has moved to protect all pubs in Waltham Forest in a similar way, after five pubs closed in as many weeks.

Local pubs preservation officer for the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA), James Watson, said: “I am going to write to the council to advise them to make sure it is water tight. Developers can be slippery.

“We are not saying that every single pub should remain that way until the end of time, but the community should have a say in it.

“Without Article Four Direction people’s voices are ignored.

“Do not for a second believe that there is no demand for pubs in Waltham Forest because there is a large Islamic population or because people don’t want them anymore. It’s simply not true.

“If you get the business model right they are in high demand, just look at The Bell in Walthamstow.”

Waltham Forest is believed to have lost around 50 per cent of its pubs in the last 30 years.

While welcoming the latest development, Save The Heathcote campaigner, Emma Griffiths, said there was much more to be done.

She said: “This battle may have been won - but in order for us to save The Heathcote Arms the war is far from over.

“It's really important that everyone now sends our objections directly to Equity Real Estate by post.”

The Article Four process was confirmed by Grove Green councillors Khevyn Limbajee, Anna Mbachu and Chris Robbins, in a joint newsletter.

They said: “This is a major decision for the council as it will affect a lot of properties and those property owners who have their planning applications refused for this reason can seek compensation from the council for their losses.”