Green light given for pub to become store and flats
New Co-op is set to create 25 jobs
PLANS to convert a village pub into a Co-op store and four flats have been approved.
Members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee voted to approve a planning application for the redevelopment of the site to provide retail at ground floor level and four flats at first floor, plus ancillary car parking and delivery area at the former Black Head Inn, Upper Tean.
The new Co-op store will employ 20 full time staff and five part time staff.
A report to councillors by case officer Chris Johnston said: “This is a full planning application to rebuild the collapsed and demolished building to the same form, siting and dimensions as before but also with a recently approved two-storey side extension, single-storey rear and side extensions and to accompany, with the former building, a change of use to Co-op food store (relocated from existing premises further along the main road) on the ground floor and four apartments, three of which would have two-bedrooms and the other would be a one-bed unit.
“The access to the shop would be to the side of the approved side ‘extension’ part of the building utilising a side gap created by the removal of the building that was to the side of the pub.
“The car park would be re-used and modified for shop customers and new residents, and this would involve an increase in spaces from eight to 19 including one disabled space and three spaces for the residents of the flats. The access to the car park will remain the same as previous.
“There will also be cycle parking, cycle storage (for residents) and bin storage areas. Deliveries will also take place at the car park. The forms state the opening times would be 6am11pm every day. The forms also state that 20 full time employees would work at the site with five part-time staff. The new store will have 400 square metres of floor space including 261 square metres of shop-floor space.
“Planning permission was granted for the change of use of the former pub and its enlargement to provide a Co-op food store to replace the existing store in the village further along the road and also provide four apartments, in July 2020.
“The building collapsed following preparation works in September 2021 and a new full planning application is required to rebuild it, even to the exact same dimensions, siting and design. The application is for the rebuild and to implement the previous approved development i.e. the new food store and apartments use with extensions.
“Although the Local Plan at the time of the previous approval has been replaced by the new Local Plan, the policies relating to the proposal have not changed significantly and the new rebuild with extensions and new uses of the site remain acceptable in principle.
“They would continue to provide a replacement enlarged food store for the village and provide small units of accommodation within a sustainable location within the development boundary of a large village.” Councillor Peter Wilkinson said: “The council supported it for the Co-op, but the builder started work without discharging the conditions. They knew what they were doing.
“People were at risk. The council has been treated with contempt. Enforcement is needed and we have got to learn from this. It sends a wrong message out to other developers.
“There is an impact. People are not happy with what has happened.”
Councillor Keith Flunder said: “I am disappointed that it has come in late. It is a mess and has caused disruption. There are, however, no planning grounds to refuse it.”
Councillors voted 12 to one in favour of approval.