100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Local, national, international and oddball news stories

Re: 100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Postby dutchman » Thu Jun 06, 2019 9:03 pm

Historic Coventry pub battle is back for THIRD time

Image

A fight to stop an historic Coventry pub from being turned into a house of multiple occupation is being taken to a third planning committee.

Applicant APSE Building Design Ltd has twice taken its plans to transform The Old Crown Inn on Windmill Road to a Coventry council meeting.

The first time, in March, plans were rejected after residents – and the committee – feared the 11-bed HMO with a ‘management office’ would be used as a hostel.

A second application was then lodged which altered the plans to a 12-bed HMO with no management office, but around the same time a fake Coventry council letter was circulated telling residents the proposed development could be used by paedophiles – a claim blasted by the council and criticised by the applicant, who said it would be targeted at “single professionals”.

It returned to a committee for a second time in April, but was deferred after councillors were left “baffled” by a “catalogue of errors” in the report in relation to amenities in the local area.

Now it is set to return to a third meeting on Thursday, June 13, where officers have recommended it for approval, as they did twice before.

A report from officer Liam D’Onofrio said: “The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and will not result in any significant impact upon visual amenity, heritage assets, neighbour amenity or highway safety, subject to relevant conditions.”

The initial application was turned down with ‘loss of community facility’ and ‘insufficient parking’ cited as the reason for refusal.

However, a Community Use Report based on CAMRA’s Public House Viability Test concluded the now-vacant pub is “unviable”, with sales declining some 47 per cent from 2009 to 2018.

Car parking provision has also now increased from nine spaces to 10, with Mr D’Onofrio stating it is “therefore considered to provide an appropriate level of car parking provision and is policy compliant”.

But a petition of 261 signatures further opposes the plans stating it is in close proximity to Longford Park Primary School, “which consists of young, vulnerable and impressionable children”.

The Crown Inn dates back to 1914 and is thought to have been used as a recruiting post during the First World War.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: 100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Postby dutchman » Sat Jun 15, 2019 3:30 pm

Future of historic pub finally decided as planning saga ends

A historic Coventry pub is to be turned into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) after plans were accepted by a committee at the third time of asking.

The Old Crown Inn pub on 89 Windmill Road will be converted into a 12-bed HMO with a communal kitchen by applicant APSE Building Design Ltd.

It marks the end of a long planning saga which saw the original application – an 11-bed HMO – refused in March after fears from residents and the committee that a management office meant it could be used as a hostel.

At the meeting on Thursday, June 13, Cllr John McNicholas said: “There was a concern about the loss of a local pub but I am pleased that a lot of work has been done to ensure that there are alternative arrangements.

“Quite clearly there is little interest if no application for a community use has come forward and this has been empty for some considerable time.”

Cllr Naeem Akhtar said it was an “acceptable proposal”, but the committee lamented the loss of a pub.

“Last year 914 pubs closed mainly because there is not enough business,” he added.

“Pubs in Coventry are struggling and it is up to the government to help.”

Cllr Catherine Miks added: “It is a shame to be losing the building to the community.”

In late representations, a condition was agreed for a ‘resident’s management plan’ to be developed between the authority and applicant to set out arrangements for tenant obligations.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: 100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Postby dutchman » Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:46 am

Old pub plans rejected after ‘planning by stealth’ jibe

Image

Plans to redevelop a former Coventry pub with more bedrooms have been thrown out after protests from the council leader it was “planning by stealth”.

Developers defeated a local campaign in June to convert the The Old Crown Inn on 89 Windmill Road into a 12-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

New plans for a two-storey rear extension and loft conversion to create an extra eight bedrooms were taken to a planning committee on October 24.

But the latest bid was slammed by a planning committee as amounting to over-development of the site, while the quality of works was also criticised.

The last plans led to petitions from residents and a campaign supported by ward councillor – and now Lord Mayor – Cllr Linda Bigham.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Duggins suggested adding further rooms to the already-approved scheme was an attempt to thwart the planning process.

He said: “This is an example of planning by stealth.

“Although there is no petition Cllr Bigham shares my view and residents have raised this with us.

“I do wonder if this will be the final application or if the council will receive another application for more bedrooms and less off-street parking.”

Planning officer Liam D’Onofrio said this wasn’t a material planning consideration and recommended it for approval.

Simon Reece, an agent for applicant APSE Building Design Ltd, also said the principle of the use of the site had already been established and that it was “comparable” use within a residential location.

But other concerns were raised over the decrease of off-street parking from 10 to eight – a shortfall on seven spaces compared to the council’s requirements – although Highways raised no objections as a survey found there were more than 100 on-street spaces to park nearby.

Plans included three new bedrooms on each new floor and two in a loft conversion, to be accommodated by a communal kitchen.

But Cllr Catherine Miks was one of a number to raise concern over the quality of the design, particularly the size of rooms in the loft.

The applicants had previously said the site would be used by “single professionals”, but this again came into question from councillors – as the first application did at previous committees.

Looking at plans laid out in a presentation, Cllr Miks said: “That is such poor quality in the attic.

“No professional is going to want that, so there is no way in it’s current stage I could condone this.”

Cllr John McNicholas, branding it “over-development”, added: “I think this is trying to take the maximum possible from the building and that should not be supported.”

Plans were refused by six councillors, with one abstaining.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: 100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Postby rebbonk » Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:03 pm

“single professionals”
:rolling: :clown:
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
User avatar
rebbonk
 
Posts: 65568
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:01 am

Re: 100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Postby dutchman » Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:18 pm

And yet the council approved similar plans for a pub in Craven Street! :roll:
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: 100-year-old Longford pub could be turned into studio flats

Postby rebbonk » Sun Oct 27, 2019 3:47 pm

Follow the money Dutchman ;) - Not always easy though.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
User avatar
rebbonk
 
Posts: 65568
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:01 am

Previous

Return to News

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests

  • Ads