New life approved for historic former pub
Plans to transform a historic former pub into a convenience store have been given the go-ahead by city development chiefs.
Sunderland City Council’s planning department have granted planning permission for the new use at the Lyons Tavern, at Four Lane Ends, in the Hetton area.
TheGeorgianpublichouse, whichwasconstructedin1828, is classed as a “non-designated heritage asset” due to its connection to the area’s coal mining legacy.
This includes links to the social history of the Durham Coalfield, with the building beingalikelymeetingpointfor miners who worked at Hetton Colliery.
Back in June 2020, an outlineplanningapplicationtodemolishthepubtomakewayfor housing was formally refused by city council planners.
Concerns at the time included the “confined and crampedlayout”ofthesite,the “local significance” of the pub building and potential biodiversity impacts from demolition.
A new application for the site, submitted the following year, instead aimed to transform the site into a convenience store.
A design and access statement submitted to council officials said there would be “minimal cosmetic changes” and no “adverse effect on the building in any way”.
During consultation on the plans, however, four public objections were submitted to the council’s planning department.
Concerns included the historic significance of the buildingbeinglost,increasedtraffic andcongestionfears,aswellas calls for the building to be preserved and to continue operating as a pub.
One comment raised concernsthatalteringthebuilding would “result in a community pillar being taken down”, while another objector raised concerns about the plans “destroying” the footfall of a local business.
Although Hetton Town Council did not submit a formalobjection,itmaderequests forthe“historiccharacteristics ofthebuilding”tobeprotected and for “adequate parking arrangements” to be provided.
After considering the planningapplicationandassessing it against policies, Sunderland CityCouncil’splanningdepartment approved it this week.
Council planners said the development’s design would be “in keeping with the character of the host property and the area in general”.