Changes to convenience store plans for former pub site welcomed
Changes to plans for a new convenience store and micropub on the site of a former Cannock boozer have been welcomed by councillors.
Cannock Chase Council gave the green light in February for the Ascot Tavern to be demolished. A new Co-op store and micropub are earmarked for the Longford Road site.
A further application came forward to change two of the conditions of the February planning permission. And the changes were approved at the latest meeting of the council’s planning committee.
A report to the committee said: “The proposed changes have arisen from the prospective operator (Co-operative Group) requiring an alternative servicing arrangement that would reduce delivery vehicle manoeuvring on site. It is now proposed to position the service area adjacent to the eastern elevation of the approved building to allow delivery vehicles to drive in. drop off goods and then pull out in forward gear, with less manoeuvring required than the approved scheme.
"The revised scheme also includes a screened plant area to the north-west corner of the building. The external fabric of the building would be increased in this corner, remaining in line with the rear and side elevations – a total increase of 39 square metres.
“As a result of the proposed amended service arrangements the internal layout of the proposed building would be amended slightly, however there would be no change to overall size and scale of the approved building.”
One letter of objection to the proposed changes was received by the council.
But committee members spoke in support of the service area changes.
Councillor Alan Pearson said: “I’m really pleased as we could see this as a potential problem. I’m totally for this as long as it is delivered per officer’s recommendations.”
Councillor Alan Dudson said: “I believe this was asked for by (former district councillor Paul) Snape when he proposed a one-way system to come out on the side street and not on the main road.”
The proposed development is set to create 25 new jobs, councillors were told in February.
But there were 17 objections received to the initial consultation on the plans, with a further nine letters in response to revised plans.
Concerns included the impact on existing shops in the area, additional traffic close to a primary school and the loss of the pub as a community asset.
The pub was previously listed as an Asset of Community Value in 2015 after being nominated by customers. In the same year an application to demolish it to make way for a convenience store and small commercial unit was refused planning permission, and an appeal against the decision was later dismissed.
