COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The pub has been empty for years



A pub in Coventry could be bulldozed for new apartments. Plans to knock down the New Haven on Dillotford Avenue were validated by the council yesterday, 2 October.

The pub in Cheylesmore has been empty for four years, planning documents reveal. "Efforts to sell the building as a public house have been unsucessful," a statement added.

The venue would be replaced with 31 one-bedroom flats across an L-shaped building three storeys high at the tallest point. The apartments would be aimed at young people moving into their first home and older people who are downsizing, plans say.

Most of the flats would be "market housing" but eight would be available at affordable rents. The development would have 38 car parking and 32 cycle spaces.

More details on the scheme can be found on the council's planning portal via reference: PL/2024/0001282/FULM.

The apartments would be aimed at young people moving into their first home and older people who are downsizing

The development would have 38 car parking and 32 cycle spaces

Coventry residents divided over pub redevelopment plans



Coventry residents are split on whether an empty pub should be bulldozed for flats. The New Haven in Earlsdon could be demolished for a three-storey building with 28 one-bed apartments.

Councillors will decide on the fate of the Dillotford Avenue venue next week. Papers for the meeting reveal councillors and 10 neighbours have objected to the plan.

Loss of light, overlooking, lack of facilities for residents and the impact on nature are among locals’ concerns. They also claim the new flats would not have enough parking.

All three Labour councillors for Earlsdon are opposing the move. They say this is because of the lack of space for cars and how the building would affect the look of the area.

But seven residents wrote letters of support to the council. Those backing the scheme say it is an efficient use of land, a good design and will be less noisy than the former pub.

The site was first earmarked for 31 one-bed flats. But developers changed plans after criticism from locals, councillors and planning officers.

Planners admitted that losing the pub will lead to a “change of character” in the area and had criticisms of a link building’s design. But they said the development will be a “focal point” and highlighted the new homes that will be built.

Officers also said the flats will have the required amount of parking. They are recommending councillors approve the scheme.

Members of the planning committee will have final say in the vote at next week’s meeting at 2pm on Thursday 20 February. More details on the scheme can be found on the council website via reference: PL/2024/0001282/FULM.

New Coventry flats like 'rabbit hutches' get council go-ahead



Flats likened to "rabbit hutches" will replace a closed-down pub in Coventry. A block of 28 one-bedroom apartments can be built on The New Haven site in Earlsdon, councillors agreed yesterday (20 February.)

It comes despite concerns over the lack of community space and number of one-bedroom flats. Cllr Kevin Maton (Lab, Henley) said it seems "disappointing" there is no space for residents to meet or do activities.

"They're all forced to go into their little rabbit hutches," he said. Cllr Maton said he used that term "deliberately" as everything in the flats that is not a bathroom or bedroom is kitchen/living room space.

"The idea that, that provides good quality accommodation for socialising or anything else, seems to me well wide of the mark," he added. Cllr Maton also claimed it is "wrong" that the building will only have one-bedroom flats.

He claimed residents wanting to expand their family or have visitors to stay will look to move and it will be a "transient" community. But officers had recommended plans be approved, stating it had an acceptable design.

One planning official told the meeting they had urged the developer to include a wider range of housing in the block. But they said the applicant had wanted to target a market for one-bedroom homes for first time buyers and people downsizing, while most homes in the area are three or four bedroom houses.

Head of Planning Rob Back said the council's policies are clear that "there is a place in this city and actually in all local authorities for one bedroom housing." He said he could not think of any council in the UK that had been able to completely rule out the need for one-bedroom homes.

"They serve an absolutely reasonable place in the housing market," he said. Another planning officer said the pub has not been used for several years so it would be hard to show it is an "active" community space for locals.

Responding to a question about developers paying to improve current community areas, she said there is nothing "prescriptive" saying they would need community facilities based on the size of the flats, unlike in the city's urban extensions. But Mr Back said they would look into their policy on how developers could help boost community facilities in local areas.

An agent for the scheme told the meeting most of the rooms are larger than national space standards as they are aimed at buyers and long-term tenants, and all have private balconies. The development makes "efficient" use of the site and gives people "more choice" in housing type, she said.

A local resident also raised concerns about the flats being "excessive" and impacting on privacy. But officers said there would not be windows providing direct overlooking in the area of concern, and said the scheme had been reduced from 31 flats which the council had considered over intensive.

Councillors voted to approve the development by seven to two, with one abstention.

A block of 28 one-bedroom apartments can be built on The New Haven site in Earlsdon