Fresh bid to turn derelict Duke into shop and flats
APPLICANT WANTS IT TO BECOME ‘A NICE BUILDING THAT WILL BENEFIT COMMUNITY’
A DERELICT pub could now be turned into a shop with flats above it after plans were withdrawn for its demolition.
The Duke of Newcastle pub, on Whitemoor Road, Basford, would be converted to a ground floor retail unit and three self-contained flats, if new proposals are approved.
The creation of the one-bedroom flats, according to a planning document, would require a single-storey side extension and new dormers.
The current layout provides six car parking spaces, and the new designs would retain these.
Dial Singh, the applicant for the new plans, also owns Kheras Store Lifestyle Express over the road.
“I believe retail would be the best [for the building] but this is a long process,” he said.
“The city council didn’t like past plans and didn’t pass it, but they were reasonable. I would like local people’s support to make it a nice building to benefit the local community.”
A plan was put forward in 2020 to demolish the building and replace it with a new-build retail unit and six apartments. This was withdrawn by the applicant on June 7, 2022.
Locals were saddened by the current state of the old pub.
Josh Whitman, 27, said: All the pubs are closing down. It is a shame to see how the land is now when it was once a popular place where everyone gathered on Sundays. They had their own football team as well”
Another local resident, who did not want to be named and has lived in the area since 1971, said: “It was a lovely pub which had no problems with it until it got closed down.
“It has been closed for years, which is a shame as it was always busy.”
Nicola Darlington, who lives next door to the boarded-up pub, said: “The building has been derelict for 15 years and locals would be pleased to see something done about it.”
Nottingham CAMRA have previously warned that the conversion of pubs is contributing to a loss of community spaces, with Steve Westby, Nottingham CAMRA branch chairman, calling the area a “pub graveyard”.
The application was submitted by Mr Singh, with Rick Cobham Design Ltd acting as a planning agent.
The application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.