Plans to turn pub into flats submitted

The pub's landlord claimed the pub is not viable

Plans to turn a Devon pub into flats have been submitted.

The owner of the Grenville Hotel in the St Judes' area of Plymouth has submitted plans to the city council to change the use of the ground floor.

Mr A Cotterell has claimed the pub is not viable and has been on the market for 18 months but attracted no offers, even at auction.

The planning committee has deferred the application, but said it was "mindful to refuse" the proposal when it was discussed again in January.

Need for housing

Local residents have expressed interest in buying the property which they say has provided social connection and brought a sense of community to the area, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Grenville Road resident Beatrice Belgrave Jones told planners she had jointly offered to purchase the pub with another local person but the owner would not entertain it without proof of funding.

She said it was more than a place to buy alcohol, and was about "social connection and a strong community which was so important to individual wellbeing".

Councillor Sue Dann said where pubs were taken over and run by local residents they became really successful.

She said the council was making efforts to have "inclusive spaces" where people could go to avoid social isolation.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, James Wells said there were other community services nearby including Tothill Community Centre and The Elder Tree and other pubs.

He said the applicant had demonstrated everything needed for the planning process.

Plymouth City Council has received 43 letters about the proposals, of which 19 supported the change of use and 24 opposed it.

Supporters said there was a need for housing and the proposal would result in less noise.