Plans to convert former village pub into flats given the go ahead

Plans to convert a former pub in Ponciau into apartments have been given the green light.

At a meeting of the planning committee yesterday, councillors voted in favour of turning the Horse and Jockey public house on Chapel Street into six apartments.

The pub has been vacant since 2017 and despite efforts to market the property was seen as unlikely to be viable – with plans to convert the building into residential use submitted last year.

Concerns had been raised about potential parking issues in the area should the plans be approved.

However Carl Hughes, the agent speaking in favour of the plans at yesterday’s meeting, noted should the applicant reopen the property as a public house, provision would also fall below the number of parking spaces required under local planning guidance.

He added: “With the applicant’s current proposal we intend to increase the number of onsite spaces to four, which will be achieved by some improvements to the access and visibility serving Duke Street.

“The resulting development would only have a requirement for two offsite parked cars which as demonstrated offers a significant reduction for the standards of the site.

“The site is also very close to public transport links which can only decrease the reliance of cars on the future occupiers.

“It is felt the development will not be detrimental to the character of the existing building or the wider area as a whole.”

Speaking in favour of the redevelopment, Ponciau councillor Paul Pemberton, said that although it is sad to see another pub go, multiple owners had tried to make a success of the business over the years.

He continued: “Parking could be better but it could also be a lot worse if it reopened as a pub.

“Also every effort has been made to sell it on as a going concern and that hasn’t happened.”

The plans received unanimous backing from planning committee members.