Plans have been put forward for a Nottinghamshire pub which narrowly escaped demolition. Fresh plans have been submitted for the Blue Bell pub on Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, which evaded being demolished by developers to make way for new housing earlier this year.
Previously a plan was rejected to demolish the pub and use the land for five three-bedroom townhouses and an apartment block. On April 26, Ashfield District Council rejected the proposal, criticising the potential complete demolition of the pub and highlighting the new homes would cause "detrimental harm"
A council report, which refused to give planning permission to the applicant, said: "The design, layout and plan form of the proposed development would appear cramped and contrived, appearing at odds with the layout and scale of properties of within the vicinity. The development was also said to have made no attempt to retain and re-use the existing heritage asset on the site.
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The council report added that although the applicant claimed the pub was no longer trading, there was no evidence to support this statement. It also said no information had been provided which showed the pub was no longer viable or that demand for it was low in the area.
The latest application now looks to convert the property rather than demolish it. The proposal would see of the existing pub into four two-storey houses.
Four four-bedroom would be built on land to the rear of the property. Eight private gardens, 10 car parking spaces and 12 secure cycle storage spaces would be created.
The rejected scheme to demolish the pub was partially rejected by Ashfield District Council due to concerns over highway safety. In a planning document, the Highways Authority said the new plans had a "significant shortfall" in parking and did not have a turning head, which would likely mean they would not support the project.
The council report previously stated there was no evidence to show the pub was no longer trading despite the applicant's claims, or that it was no longer viable as a business. The application, submitted by Rancourt Ltd, is currently pending consideration by Ashfield District Council.
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