A West Kensington table dancing club may be sunk before it evens opens because Hammersmith and Fulham Council believes it does not have the correct planning permission.
Passion Nights Ltd is spending £2million fitting out the club above the former Fox pub in North End Crescent, which it is also renovating.
The company has encountered bitter opposition from residents and now faces another hurdle after principal planning officer Catherine Thornton argued extra planning permission was needed.
She told councillors: "I am of the opinion that the use of the first floor as a lap dancing club does constitute a change of use and as such planning permission would be required. On this basis, I would object to the above premises licence application until planning permission has been obtained."
A Passion Nights spokesman said a planning officer verbally confirmed the existing permission would cover the club after meeting in August.
He added: "The very fact that no enforcement action has been forthcoming since this meeting and conversation clearly indicates that they cannot find a way of blocking the intended use."
Mother-of-two Rachel Marlowe from Mornington Avenue, West Kensington, has helped gather has 300 signatures on a petition opposing the North End Road Crescent club. She said: "Hopefully this planning problem will make the owner change his mind and try and do something different with the place."
