A treasured pub threatened by the developers of Earl’s Court has been thrown a lifeline after Hammersmith and Fulham Council recognised its importance to the local community.

The Prince of Wales Pub has been given Asset of Community Value status after community groups rallied together in a bid to stop demolition plans by Capital and Counties Properties PLC (Capco).

Organisations and residents associations has submitted five separate nominations at the beginning of the year. Among those was the Gibbs Green and Dieppe Close Residents’ Association.

'People power has prevailed'

Chairwoman Diane Belshaw said: “We are ecstatic the nomination has been accepted. Local people have been listened to and we are getting what we want for a change. People power has prevailed for once.”

She believes the Asset of Community Value decision means the pub cannot be pulled down for at least six months, when another process must commence.

Ms Belshaw had previously told getwestlondon: “It’s a very old building that doesn’t need to be demolished. But developers don’t care, they just care about money and making homes that will be unaffordable for local people.”

Campaigners dressed in Victorian garb to celebrate the temporary reprieve of the prince of Wales Pub in Lillie Road, and nearby Empress Place and Imperial Arms pub

The nominations of the pub, which had been popular with Chelsea fans , resulted in the Victorian-built street Empress Place, its parade of shops and the nearby Imperial Arms Pub, which is also on Lillie Road and had closed at an earlier date, being temporarily spared the bulldozer’s ball.

The council also received letters from Labour, Lib Dem and Green London Assembly members urging it to accept the nominations.

Capco say the approval by the council does not change its plans or affect the redevelopment of Earl’s Court or the area surrounding the pub.

'Exciting proposals'

Campaigners had marked the earlier reprieve with a Victorian Day promenade on Lillie Road and Empress Place where they dressed in Victorian costume .

The Prince of Wales pub is thought to be where the future King Edward VII, when Prince of Wales, would woo his mistress Lillie Langtry - also the name of a nearby pub in Lillie Road.

A spokesperson for Capco, which recently revealed demand for homes in the area had slowed , said: “The former Prince of Wales pub sits outside of the consented Earls Court Masterplan which is progressing well and will deliver a vibrant new part of London, including over 7,500 new homes and improved community amenities .

“The pub closed last year and will not reopen and we will soon be bringing forward exciting proposals for Empress Place and Lillie Road, to complement the consented Masterplan.

“The decision by the council in relation to the former pub does not affect our plans.”

This week UKIP London Mayor candidate Peter Whittle said he would review the Earl’s Court development if elected. It leaves the Conservative’s Zac Goldsmith as the only candidate yet pledge a review of the controversial plan .