Pub on outskirts of Wrexham county borough could be replaced by two houses

A pub on the outskirts of Wrexham county borough could be replaced by two new houses.

Plans have been submitted to Wrexham Council which would see the Black Lion pub in Newbridge converted into a three-bedroom house.
A separate bungalow would also be built on Park Road on land which currently serves as the pub’s car park.

The application has been put forward by the pub’s owners as they said it was no longer viable as a business.

In a statement submitted to the local authority, planning consultants acting on their behalf said: “In recent years local pub usage has declined nationally and this is reflected in the customers and trading of the Black Lion, and it closed in 2017.

“It was bought by the applicants in 2019 and renovated and reopened in July 2019 but trading levels are unviable.

“The property is in two parts: the public house building and gardens and the private car park for customers and owners, on the opposite side of Park Road.

“The premises are not suitable for any other commercial use, but are highly suitable for residential use within the existing residential area.

“Access is direct from the adopted public highway Park Road, and there will be potential highways benefits from the change of use.”

The pub is believed to have first been built in around 1900 and has been on the market for the last five months with little interest shown, according to the agents.

Although they described the building’s appearance as “not unsightly”, they said there was a risk it could deteriorate in future.

They added: “The Black Lion is not the only provision for Newbridge settlement which has another public house The Pubby McPub Face (Newbridge Arms) within 100m of the Black Lion.

“Therefore its closure and change of use would not be a detrimental to the social or economic fabric of the community or the local area, nor have a detrimental impact upon local residents’ quality of life.”

The proposals will be considered by the council at a later date.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter