Plans for council housing have been proposed for a former pub and hotel in Chilwell. Residents think the plan for the former venue some described as a ‘rough but brilliant’ pub is a ‘sensible' idea.
Plans have been put forward for the former Inham Nook Pub, in Inham Road, Chilwell. The plans state demolition of existing garages and provision of new housing and flats and associated parking, with provision of a pocket park.
The council housing consists of 12 new council homes and three flats. Neighbours in Chilwell told Nottinghamshire Live they welcome the plans for the ‘eyesore pub’ building.
Andrew Moran, who has lived in the area his whole life, used to use the Inham Nook Pub before it closed. Mr Moran said: “It’s fine - it’s good. It was very popular, it died off as families that used it moved. It was brilliant as far as I am concerned. It was rough but it was brilliant. We are desperate for housing around here.”
Residents previously described the pub as the 'heart of the community' despite it's rough reputation.
Full time carer and mum, Leonie Atherton, 40, who has also lived in Chilwell her whole life, told Nottinghamshire Live turning former pub into new housing will help the area feel alive.
Leonie said: “I don't have any strong opinion. I think they do need to do something with it. Housing is the most sensible, especially if it is going to be council, more social housing. Something needs to be done, having a boarded up building has more of a temptation for people to break into it. You have that danger, people want to break into it, looking for further crimes. People become wary because they know that it’s not used.
She added: “They need to do something with it - it’s derelict. [The area] needs some life in it, otherwise it does end up being run down. Need it to feel more alive and not abandoned.”
Owner of Deepak Store, behind the former pub, Sital Singh Lachhar, says the new homes won’t bother him as it will fill the empty land. Mr Lachhar said: “It was popular when we first moved here. When the landlord left it just went down, down and down. People couldn’t afford the prices.
He said: “It depends on what kind of people have them - you’ve got to be concerned. I prefer houses not flats. If the council has a shortage of houses then they’ve got to build it. They can build it, it won’t bother me - it’s empty land, an eyesore.”
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