Revolution facing residential change
BAR COULD FACE APARTMENTS MAKEOVER
A ONCE popular bar in the heart of Hull’s Old Town is set to be turned into smaller retail units and apartments under new plans.
The former Revolution bar in Lowgate was turned into the Rift Bar, but the venue closed a while ago due to a lack of trade.
Now the owner of the building Southbrook Property Group Ltd, has submitted an application to revamp the property, which includes 14 Bishop Lane.
The ground floor could be divided into four smaller commercial units while the upper floors will become apartments.
There would be a total of
14 apartments made up of one and two-bedroom homes.
The design and access statement says: “The ground floor, in conjunction with much of the first floor, operated as a successful city centre bar for many years under the Revolution and more recently Rift & Co brand.
“But, like many such businesses, suffered from a lack of trade and despite different owner/occupiers, the use ceased.
“The proposal seeks to guarantee the long term future of the building in its entirety and it is considered that the sub division of the space into smaller commercial units along with the provision of two apartments is seen as sensible for the ground floor.
“An empty building is not appropriate for a number of reasons and the best way to sustain the future of such a building is through its occupation and the flexibility of uses.
“The upper floors of the building are divided into a myriad of offices, storage and kitchen space and it is considered that the remodelling of these spaces to provide residential apartments offers an opportunity for future residents to live somewhere truly bespoke and unique.”
The building, which still has the Rift Bar signs, is boarded up with steel shutters.
The applicant argues leaving the property empty for any length of time could leave to further deterioration.
The design and access statement says: “Fundamentally, the buildings in their current form will deteriorate due to the lack of occupation and the best way to successfully manage and sustain listed buildings and other important buildings is to occupy them.
“All the proposal represents a mixed used development, the bulk of the proposal is attributed towards residential development.
“Given that the application site is located within the city centre, applying the space standards is not required, but the proposed apartments are all generous inside, which shows a willingness from the applicant to provide a high standard of accommodation for future residents.”
The application is set to be considered by Hull City Council’s at a later date.