Historic Spon End pub sold amid closure fears

[dutchman]

To be fair there wasn't a lot of left of Stanley Terrace by the time it was finally knocked down as you can see from this satellite view which I saved for posterity:



The remaining houses had long been abandoned and boarded up. You can also see from that view how later buildings on both sides of Spon End Lane have been set back to allow for road widening at some point in the future.

[dutchman]

Wholesalers and flats plan submitted for former Victorian Coventry pub



The future of a historic Coventry pub is set to be thrown in to doubt once more after latest plans were submitted to the city council.

The owner of the old Black Horse, in Spon End, wants to turn the former Victorian pub into a wholesalers and flats in their latest attempt to breathe life in to the venue.

However, an order banning any development without specific planning consent, slapped on the pub by Coventry City Council in 2012, still remains in place.

The order means that the development would only by allowed if it ‘outweighs resulting harm’ and no realistic alternative can be secured.

It came after owner Tony Harris, director of Christchurch Properties and owner of the nearby Arches Industrial Estate, wanted to demolish the pub three years ago and the council reacted by putting the order in place.

The newest plans propose to change the use of the pub to a wholesalers on the ground floor with a single storey side extension, and a flat in multiple occupation on the first and second floors.

There would also be a change of use of part of the rear car park to a car showroom in connection with the neighbouring car dealership.

The application states: “We seek approval to carry out these works to restore this building back to its former character, as well as utilising a vacant building which is falling under increasing disrepair.

“The proposal aims to provide longevity at this location, providing an appropriate change of use to this site, in a sensitive manner.”

The pub – labelled one of the 200 best preserved in Britain by council officers – had Grade II listed status until it was removed after an appeal to English Heritage by former owners Punch Taverns.

The pub’s interior was thought to date back to when the building was first built in the 1800s, but Punch successfully proved the interior was installed in the 1920s.

Punch the sold the pub in May 2012.

The former ale house is believed to be located on the site of the medieval manor house of Sponna, first recorded in 1253.

For more information visit http://planning.coventry.gov.uk/portal/ and search for application FUL/2014/4035.

[dutchman]

Plans for Black Horse pub in Spon End are given go ahead

A Victorian pub in Coventry is set to be turned in to a wholesalers and flats after plans were given the green light.

Coventry City Council’s planning chiefs ran the rule over the latest application to breathe new life in to the old Black Horse, in Spon End, and have this week given their approval.

The historic pub had been at the centre of a row between owner Tony Harris, director of Christchurch Properties and owner of the nearby Arches Industrial Estate, and the city council for the past few years.

Mr Harris had originally wanted to demolish the former drinking hole - labelled one of the 200 best preserved in Britain by council officers - but the city council reacted by slapping an order on the pub that banned any development without specific planning consent.

The order remains in place to this day, meaning that the pub cannot be demolished, and this resulted in the most recent application for a change of use instead.

The now-approved proposals will see the ground floor changed to use for a wholesalers with a single storey side extension, while a flat in multiple occupation will occupy the first and second floors. There will now also be a change of use of part of the rear car park to become a car showroom in connection with the neighbouring car dealership.

The application said that the plans will “restore this building back to its former character, as well as utilising a vacant building which is falling under increasing disrepair”.

[dutchman]

New plans for Coventry's former Black Horse pub



A former Coventry pub could be turned into a 12 bedroom house.

The latest planning application for the Black Horse in Spon End seeks to turn the historical pub into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

Owner Tony Harris, director of Christchurch Properties, has applied to Coventry City Council’s planning department for permission to change the use of the building.

Earlier this year Mr Harris was granted different planning permission for the building.

He successfully applied to turn the ground floor into a wholesalers and the second and third floors into a flat of multiple occupation.

He was also granted permission to turn part of the car park at the back into an extension for the neighbouring car showroom.

But those developments have not yet gone ahead.

[dutchman]

Demolish Black Horse pub, say local residents

A group of Coventry residents are calling for a former pub which dates back to the 1800s to be demolished.

Members of the Rivermead Residents Association have declared the former Black Horse pub an eyesore and want it pulled down.

They say the Spon End building spoils the view for people driving into the city.

Chairman of the Rivermead Residents Association Peter Dixon said: “We want to see it demolished because it is an eyesore. It is not pleasing to the eye for people coming into Coventry.

“It is on the main arterial road coming into Coventry and has an impact on visitors coming to Coventry.

“I know people who come here from Birmingham to shop in Coventry and it is one of the things they see as they drive in.
Story Link: New plans for Coventry's former Black Horse pub

“There are some buildings in Spon End worth keeping.

“The college at The Butts, that’s worth keeping but not the Black Horse.

Mr Dixon represents people who live on the Rivermead Estate which backs on to the former pub.

Mr Dixon backed a planning application in 2012 to demolish the pub and turn the site into an extension of the forecourt for the neighbouring car dealership.

The application was made by the building’s owner Tony Harris of Christchurch Properties.

Mr Dixon was disappointed when the application was turned down by Coventry City Council.

Mr Harris recently made a planning application to turn the building into a house of multiple occupation, although a decision on that has not yet been made.

A spokesperson for Coventry City Council said the pub was locally listed, meaning it can’t be demolished with specific council permission.

[dutchman]

A change of use for the Black Horse pub in Spon End has been granted by Coventry City Council

A 200-year-old former pub in Coventry looks set to be turned into a 12-bedroom house after plans were given the green light by the city council.

The future of the Black Horse in Spon End has been up in the air for the last few years and it now seems set to become a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The latest plans by owner Tony Harris, director of Christchurch Properties, to change the use of the building were this week approved by planning chiefs.

The council’s decision comes despite a group of Coventry residents calling for the building to be demolished.

Members of the Rivermead Residents Association have declared the Black Horse an eyesore and want it pulled down.

Earlier this year Mr Harris was granted different planning permission for the building.

He successfully applied to turn the ground floor into a wholesalers and the second and third floors into a flat of multiple occupation.

He was also granted permission to turn part of the car park at the back into an extension for the neighbouring car showroom.

But those developments have not yet gone ahead.

The latest planning application comes after a series of disputes over the future and importance of the building.

[dutchman]

Historic pub to be sold at auction - with planning permission to turn it into a 12-bedroom house



A pub which has stood empty for four years is to be sold at an auction.

The Black Horse in Spon End, Coventry , will be sold by estate agency Loveitts with a guide price of £375,000.

The building has planning permission for the ground floor to be used as a wholesalers and the rest of the building to be used as a flat share.

There is also planning permission for the whole building to be turned into a 12-bedroom house share but the inside of the building needs to be refurbished.

Pictures taken indoors show missing fireplaces, damaged plaster and bare brick walls.

Staff at Loveitts are marketing the former pub as an investment.

They estimate rent from the 12 rooms would add up to £70,000 a year once the refurbishments are finished.

Loveitts auctions manager Sally Smith said: “It’s an interesting property and a good investment. We have had lots of interest so it’s fingers crossed.

“It has some really nice internal features such as a nice entrance hallway and a wooden staircase.”

The pub dates back to the early 19th century when it replaced an 18th century pub on the site.

Before that it was the site of the medieval manor house of Sponna.

The building used to have a Grade II listing from English Heritage but former owners Punch Taverns successfully appealed against the listing.

After the successful appeal the pub was sold for £275,000 to Christchurch Properties.

Conservation staff said it is a good example of the kind of pub which used to be common across the country.

Council officers named it as among the 200 best preserved in the country.

Coventry City Council locally listed the pub after the new owner gave notice of plans to demolish it and use the land to extend the neighbouring car dealership forecourt.

The local listing doesn’t prevent it from being demolished but it means any plans for demolition or redevelopment are carefully scrutinised by council planners.

The auction will take place at the Village Hotel in Dolomite Avenue, Tile Hill, at 6.30pm on Thursday.

[dutchman]

Coventry's Black Horse pub for auction again - with £100k knocked off guide price


Regulars outside the Black Horse pub in Spon End in 1989

Investors are to get a second chance to buy the Black Horse pub in Coventry - with £100,000 knocked off the asking price.

The historic disused pub in Spon End, is up for auction on Thursday, July 14, at the Village Hotel in Dolomite Avenue, Canley.

The guide price has been dropped by more than a quarter after lack of interest at the original price.

The new guide price is between £225,000 and £275,000 down from £325,000 to £375,000 when the pub was last up for auction in May.

The pub last changed hands in 2012 when it was bought for £275,000.

Staff from estate agents Loveitts are available to show people round in the run up to the auction.

[Melisandre]

I hope it remains a pub we have lost to many pubs.

[dutchman]

Not a chance I'm afraid, it ceased to be a pub four years ago. The interior has been completely stripped out.