Neighbours have shared their sadness at the state of a derelict pub which could soon receive a new lease of life. The Duke of Newcastle pub on Whitemoor Road, Basford would be converted to a ground floor retail unit and three self-contained flats, if new proposals are approved.
The creation of these three one-bedroom flats, according to a planning document, would require a single storey side extension and new dormers on the roof. The current layout provides six car spaces, and the new designs would retain these.
Dial Singh, the applicant for the new plans, also owns the Kheras Store Lifestyle Express over the road. "I believe retail would be the best [for the building] but this is a long process," he said.
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"The city council didn’t like past plans and didn’t pass it but they were reasonable. I would like local peoples support and aims to make a nice building to benefit the local community.”
A plan was previously put forward in 2020 to demolish the building and replace it with a new build retail unit and six apartments. This was withdrawn by the applicant on June 7, 2022.
Locals were saddened by the current state of the old pub. Josh Whitman, 27, said: All the pubs are closing down. It is a shame to see how the land is now when it was once a popular place where everyone gathered on Sundays. They had their own football team as well”
A local resident, who did not want to be named and had lived in the area since 1971, said: "It was a lovely pub which had no problems with it until it got closed down. It has been closed for years which is a shame as it was always busy and a good meeting point."
Nicola Darlington, who lives next door to the bordered property, said: "The buildings has been derelict for 15 years and locals would be pleased to see something done about it. Councillors have been informative but the planning department have been difficult to get in touch with."
Nottingham CAMRA have previously warned that the conversion of pubs to apartments is contributing to a loss of community spaces, with Steve Westby, Nottingham CAMRA branch chairman, had previously labelled the area around the pub as a 'pub graveyard'. More than 300 Nottinghamshire pubs have closed down over the last two decades according to Office for National Statistics data - and the toll doesn't include those that have been lost during the Covid pandemic.
The application was submitted by Mr Singh whose address is listed as the Kheras Store shop over the road from the closed pub, with Rick Cobham Design Ltd acting as a planning agent. The application is currently pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
