Flat plans for pub halted by public
Local Democracy Reporter A community has won its battle to stop a historic pub being turned into flats, amid warnings over a village drug problem and fears that an ambitious regeneration project could be derailed.
Gateshead Council’s planning committee rejected a development proposal for the vacant Chopwell Hotel on Wednesday morning, after pleas from hundreds of residents.
Councillors heard that the Derwent Street pub, which has been empty since 2013, has been “at the heart of the community” for generations and was completely unsuitable for the suggested use as 12 flats for adults with learning disabilities.
Chopwell councillor Michael McNestry argued that approving the housing scheme would lead to ‘enormous’ unrest in an area that has experienced major violent incidents involving drugs.
He added that the size and layout of flats would not be appropriate for supported living accommodation and that council officers had told him there was no chance of the authority placing anyone with learning disabilities in that building.
The local authority’s planning officers had recommended the plan for approval, but that verdict was overturned by councillors.
Jodie Barwick-Bell, of the Chopwell Regeneration Group, told the committee that there was ‘near unanimous’ opposition to the plans in the village, which is set to be transformed by a £1m council investment plan. She said that the hotel was ‘essential’ to the regeneration plans, under which it is earmarked as a bike shop and cafe.
She added: “It is the only thing in Chopwell that unites all of the people from all different classes, all different parts of Chopwell, and all generations. It is a very important building.”
The community group has lodged an application to have the building classified an asset of community value, and 500 people signed a petition opposing the development.
A representative for Excell Property Developments, which bought the hotel at auction earlier this year, told the committee that the flats would “bring the building back to life”.
Coun Lynne Caffrey said: “Chopwell has a very high level of social problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse – it is not a community where it is safe to locate the sort of people you are talking about.”
The committee voted unanimously to refuse the plans on the grounds of parking problems, poor access, and the flats not meeting national room space standards.