Friday, October 20, 2017

News: New lease of life for Rotherham pubs

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Two former pubs on the edge of Rotherham town centre could both be in for a new lease of life, if planning approval can be secured to change the use of the buildings.

Known by many as the The Moulders Rest, the prominent building on Masborough Street has previously been operated as restaurants since the pub's closure in 2009.

Now, CR Civil Engineering Ltd, a firm that is based in the East Midlands and works throughout the UK, is hoping to bring the premises back into use as a new regional office.

CR Civil Engineering Ltd carries out work on large projects such as drainage, earthworks and surfacing. Previous projects in the area include surfacing at Hitachi's Doncaster rail depot, work on Charter Square in Sheffield and £1m worth of works on the Doncaster to Water Orton - Railway Station Platforms Realignment project.

The expanding firm is aplpying to change the use of the building from restaurant to office use. If approved, the bar and restaurant areas would all be converted into office space for 14 staff members. The plans also include a reception area, toilet and kitchen facilities, meeting room, car parking provision for staff and visitors, and external storage space for materials and small, specialist machinery.

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The Masbrough area has been given a mixed use allocation in the latest local plan and Rotherham Council has considered that a sequential test is required in line with national and local planning policies. Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen.

A report from the Council's planning policy team indicates that they are satisfied that alternative sites in the town centre have been appropriately discounted, and that there are no other appropriate available alternatives.

The 3,900 sq ft property went up for sale last year with agents Knight Frank seeking offers in the region of £300,000 exclusive for the Freehold interest.

At the other end of town, on Wellgate, another set of plans have been submitted for the former Masons Arms. Here plans have been submitted that would convert the pub building into a ground floor retail unit with an eight bedroom HMO (house of multiple occupation) above.

M2 Design & Planning Consultants have been commissioned by Yasir Hussain to develop a plan for the building. Their application states: "The proposal is to convert the existing premises to a more suitable use by the applicant. The former public house ceased trading and was put on the open market, which was then acquired by the new owner with view to developing the site to a more suitable use, taking into account the current needs and demands from the area."

The 7,037 sq ft property has been marketed by CBRE and Everard Cole and was given a guide price of £175,000.

Using the existing building structure, the plans show that 1,550 sq ft of A4 retail space would be created and plans for the upper floors include eight bedrooms, two kitchens, two bathrooms and two toilets.

Pre-application discussions had been requested with the Council earlier this year regarding the potential conversion of the pub into a residential care home facility.

Britain has lost 28,000 pubs since the 1970s, according to the CAMRA's latest Good Beer Guide.

Images: Knight Frank / CBRE

2 comments:

Mr me October 20, 2017 at 1:02 PM  

Town.needs new pubs,not existing pubs turning into "multiple occupency"residential,we all know what sort of people they will be,just take a look at the William Fry(a public house that shouldnt have been closed down)Thats got god knows how many living in there.Seem Rotherham council are intent on.turning town centre into a ghetto.Well done !

Anonymous,  October 23, 2017 at 10:20 AM  

100% agree with above comment ! The town needs to revive its ‘night time’ economy not hammer more nails into the coffin !
What’s happening with Cross Keys ? Does anyone know or will that go the same way ?

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