18th Century pub could become convenience store

The pub has been closed for several years and has suffered from vandalism

An 18th Century pub blighted by vandalism will be redeveloped, extended and converted into a convenience store if plans are approved.

An application to convert the derelict, Grade II-listed Hare and Hounds, on Great Horton Road in Bradford, into a shop would also see a smaller retail unit built in its grounds.

The pub has been shut for many years, has suffered fire damage and part of the roof has been stolen, according to the planning application.

A decision on the plans is expected to be made by Bradford Council next month.

The proposal by MGM Property Investment calls for an extension to the rear of the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Although the application does not specify which retailer would be opening on the site, a recent post from Queensbury's independent councillor Luke Majkowski said Sainsbury’s was in talks to take on the unit.

The plans would extend the existing structure to provide the space for a change of use to a convenience store and a second smaller retail unit, "potentially for a food retail tenant", would be built on a section of the pub's car park.

There would be 29 parking spaces which would include EV charging bays and 12 cycle parking spaces.

The plans would include a second retail unit in the car park

According to the application it had been "established that the viability of the heritage asset as a continuing public house is not sustainable” and it had “fallen into a state of disrepair which has caused deterioration to the existing listed building".

A heritage statement included with the application said the pub ceased trading in 2019 and had remained vacant since then with significant deterioration of internal and external fabric.

It said refurbishment in the 1990s meant much of the original internal character of the building had been "lost or masked".

“Internal fabric is in very poor condition with area of collapse and damage evident throughout.

“It is clear that the former inn is at a significant risk of further deterioration and loss of fabric and as such the principle of an adaptive re-use is considered acceptable," the statement said.

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