Objections to shop plans for Stag pub building in Garswood

What are the plans for?

Proposals seeking permission to change the use of the Stag Hotel pub in Garswood into a shop have been submitted.

Applicants Thistlewood Properties Ltd have sent in plans to the council for the Station Road pub building, which the application states closed earlier this year.

What the applicant says

A planning statement says: “This statement has been prepared to support a planning application for the conversion and extension of the Stag PH (public house) in Garswood to form a new local convenience store.

“The application follows two previous applications for a new store in the pub car park which were refused.”

READ > Car park plans for business site submitted

It adds the “new proposal retains the car park, upon which the previous schemes were proposed, and involves the conversion of the public house, which closed earlier in 2023.”

Plans say the new store will “have a total floorspace of around 352sqm, utilising the ground floor of the existing building and an extension to the east and south elevations” and  “the first floor will be retained”.

It is added; “The store will function as a small, local food store helping meet the day-to-day needs of local residents, comprising a local walk-in catchment population and a limited amount of pass-by trade.

“The store is expected to carry a basic range of groceries, ready meals, sandwiches and snacks, beers, wines and spirits and a range of fresh fruit and vegetables”.

The application states “some 15+ staff are expected to be employed, and there will be job opportunities for experienced retail employees as well as part-time and shift work for young adults and retirees”.

It is added the existing car park “is to be reconfigured and laid out to provide 17 dedicated customer parking bays and two disabled bays”.

Additionally, “to accommodate cyclists, the proposed development will include a total of three cycle stands”.

Plans for the former Stag pub were sent in (Image: Google Street View)

The application concludes: “The proposals will provide a suitable use, on a brownfield site within an existing urban area.

"The fabric and character of the existing building will be predominantly retained, with sympathetically designed additions to create a suitable amount of floorspace to enable the proposed convenience store to work and operate appropriately.

“The new store will allow for an improvement in the range and choice of goods offered locally by providing a modern new retail environment with a light and spacious floorplan and adequate car parking provision”.

'We do not need another store'

Objections from some residents have been sent in against the plans.

One said: “Garswood does not need another convenience store - this request has already been rejected a couple of years ago.

“There is already a One Stop and post office on Hamilton Road and a Londis a few doors down on Garswood Road.

“The garage is also undergoing development Either keep this as a hospitality - something Garswood does need.

“Make it an HMO for professionals or knock it down and build houses. DO NOT Approve this as change of use for a convenience store”.

Public consultation

The plans are on standard consultation to the public until Friday, May 12.

At the time of writing two letters of objection have been submitted.

A determination deadline has been set for June 12.