A plan to transform a vacant pub into more flats has been met with disappointment by locals. Under the new proposal the ground floor of the Portland Arms on Annesley Road, Hucknall would be turned into three apartments.
The applicant David Adams, who is the owner and former proprietor of the pub, has suggested in planning documents it was not a viable business after being closed several times over the last ten years. It was last shut in December 2020, which he said was a result of "issues with punters and new competition including several micro bars".
Andrew Ludlow, secretary of Nottingham CAMRA and a Hucknall resident said that the demise of the pub was a shame for the town. "It did have that rather sad look that it was always struggling and unfortunately it looks as if there's now an application to turn it into flats. It's a shame because I still think there was life in the place if done properly but equally you can see with the influx of very popular pubs into Hucknall it got slightly left behind," Mr Ludlow said.
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"It was the pub on the edge of the town centre, so during the pandemic it was the furthest away. And whilst I felt it was still viable over the last couple of years it had a string of landlords who tried to do something different but failed."
Mr Ludlow added that CAMRA had applied for the pub to be listed as a Asset of Community Value, but had the request rejected. "It would have been nice for it to be retained but it doesn't seem like that's possible. It seems very short sighted, as the real danger is that loneliness in old age is a real problem but one of few community assets that elderly people are comfortable going to is are the pubs," He added.
"If you shut down the pub in a local community the only way would be a bus service that doesn't exist or get a taxi. And the cost of living means that last option for many people is not really available."
The owner has stated the site is not viable as any other business as there retail units available in the main town centre. A planning document labelled converting the pub to residential use the "only viable option".
The pub owner's planning agent said they had identified a significant demand for smaller units occupied by single people working in the local area. The site previously received planning permission in 2013 for four two-bed apartments on the upper two floors.
Councillor Jim Blagden, Ashfield Independent representative of the Hucknall Central ward, was also unenthusiastic about the plans for the pub. "To be quite honest I don't like to see pubs disappearing. But I think it is a sign of the times, what it shows though I'm not sure.
"If you look at the estates built in the 50's, all those pubs opened then have all gone really. In the 60's or 50's there was a load of pubs but it's the changing times that it's going to be housing.
"I get the concern over the loss of community places, but I think to old people now to go in a pub would just be noise. In the centre of the town you've got a lot of pubs and it is vibrant.
"At the end of the day there are more flats and houses coming into Hucknall than every. So it was probably inevitable." The application is currently pending consideration by Ashfield District Council.
In a planning document, Spark Design And Planning on behalf of David Adams, said: "The site is not viable as any other business. Retail units are available in the main town centre. Therefore, converting to residential is the only viable option. The client looks forward to gaining the planning approval so that development work can begin as soon as possible."
