"Historic Coventry pub could be demolished"

[dutchman]

If approved, 33 apartments would be built in its place



A historic Coventry pub could be set for demolition with 33 apartments planned on the site it occupies.

If plans are approved, The Grapes pub on Radford Road would be demolished before a new block of flats is constructed.

According to planning documents, these flats would not be for student occupation.

Instead, the 33 apartments - a mix of one and two bedroom properties are being proposed with a mixture of single residents, couples, and small families in mind.

But the plans, which were submitted to Coventry City Council in February, have already attracted criticism, with campaigners battling to save the historic pub.

The plans are currently in the consultation stage, with residents able to comment on the proposals until May 29.

The Grapes is a fairly historical pub in Coventry, having stood where it is since 1932.

However, according to Coventry pub historians Real Ale Rambles, it was first mentioned in 1847, on the opposite side of the road, before being rebuilt where it is now.

But should the current planning application be approved, the existing building at 85 Radford Road - the pub, would be demolished.

The documents show that a three story L shaped building with a mixture of grey and blue bricks would be built in its place.

According to the design statement submitted by the IDP group on behalf of the applicants: "The proposal will contain thirty three generously sized apartments including two wheelchair accessible apartments.

"The mix of one and two bedroom apartments is close to equal and will accommodate a mix of single residents, couples and small families."

Further documents reveal that there would be 51 car parking spaces, and 30 cycle spaces - with no on street parking needed.

Presently there are 20 car parking spaces, and no cycle spaces.

A campaign called Save the Grapes has been launched, with members of the community battling to keep the pub as it is.

According to the group, "the Grapes pub has served the Radford community for 88 years.

"It's been a jazz club, a dance hall, and a meeting place for four generations of Coventry people.

"We've made friends there, met future spouses, socialised with workmates and neighbours and celebrated numerous life events such as birthdays and significant anniversaries."

Earlier this month the campaigners held a public meeting, and invited local councillors and MPs to attend.

You can view and comment on the planning application here.

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Pub saved after campaign – but ‘fight not over’



A community campaign to save a historic Coventry pub has succeeded after the council rejected plans to demolish the site and turn it into apartments.

But campaigners have said the fight is not over as the battle to re-open the pub is still ongoing.

Coventry City Council’s planning team yesterday (Monday) rejected an application to demolish the Grapes Pub on Radford Road to build 33 apartments.

It follows months of campaigning by community group ‘Save the Grapes’, which led to hundreds of residents staging a rally outside the pub on Saturday.

In a report, head of planning Tracy Miller said “there is no justification for the loss of the building”, noted as a heritage asset and a community facility.

She also cited concerns over highway safety, flooding, design, ecology, a lack of affordable housing, and unsuitable infrastructure.

The decision means the pub cannot be demolished without planning consent, offering a degree of protection.

Campaigner Wayne Walton said: “Without the planning consent the Grapes is a pub and there is no planning approval."

On the rejection of the application, Mr Walton added: “It is fantastic news.

“From a planning application point of view the building was rejected but also the community aspect was taken into account reflecting what the Grapes provides to the local residents, which is more damaging than how a building looks.

“There is no way they can replace that community aspect if it’s lost.

“This is a fantastic outcome but we understand that it is not over yet and there is still plenty of campaigning to hopefully get it re-opened and back into the community as it has been for almost 100 years.”

The pub first opened in 1932 but closed this month, and is now boarded up.

Plans would have redeveloped the site into a mix of one and two bedroom properties for single residents, couples, and small families.

But they sparked fierce opposition, with a community campaign and total of 87 letters objecting to the plans, although there was also four letters in support.

The applicant of the plans was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

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Apartments plan at historic pub rejected by planners again



Plans to convert a popular Coventry pub into apartments have been thrown out for a second time.

A fresh application was lodged to convert The Grapes pub in Radford into apartments earlier this year. An initial application was refused last summer.

But despite amending the original plans by decreasing the number of flats from 33 to 32, the fresh application has also been turned down.

Coventry City Council's planning department cited a number of reasons for refusal including the loss of the pub as a community asset.

The refusal will be met favourably by the Save the Grapes campaigners - who have worked to save the Radford Road pub ever since it shut its doors last year.

Campaigners battled to save the pub, in the hopes of eventually reopening it - going so far as to secure the pub's status as an Asset of Community Value.

The fresh application, submitted by the IDP Group on behalf of the applicant, argued that the loss of the pub was justified by the proximity to two other premises - the Radford Social Club, and The Coundon Hotel.

However, council planning officers rejected claims that the Radford Social Club is a direct alternative.

They cited that all other pubs in the Radford area of the city have closed, including The Radford Hotel, The Motor Hotel, The Admiral Coddrington; and The Whitmore. It was said that the retention of The Grapes "is all the more important."

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Police launch arson investigation after blaze at Coventry pub



Police are investigating an arson attack after more than 30 firefighters tackled a blaze at a Coventry pub.

Crews from six different fire stations attended the fire at The Grapes in Fynford Road, Radford, yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, April 20).

It was brought under control by more than 30 firefighters from all four Coventry fire stations with assistance from crews based in Solihull and Birmingham.

Today West Midlands Police revealed the blaze was being treated as arson and an investigation has been launched.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We are investigating a fire at a derelict pub, the Grapes, Radford Road, Coventry, at just after 3pm yesterday (Tuesday, April 20).

"No-one was reported injured in the fire, which is being treated as arson."