Proposals have been submitted to build new flats in the car park of a popular Grade II listed pub. The Barons Court pub, located on the busy Cogan Spur roundabout in Penarth, underwent a huge transformation in 2021 after it was taken over by new owners. Last year, the pub once again underwent a change of management, re-branding to Courts.
Once a Toby Carvery, the pub ceased trading in 2018, with all staff being made redundant and was unoccupied for three years. Now, proposals have been submitted to demolish an existing building in the pub's car park and build nine new apartments.
Under the proposals, which have not yet been approved, the apartments would be built to the rear of the pub, with a new access road being put in place. With views over the River Ely, the pub is one of the oldest standing buildings in the Penarth area. Formerly known as Cogan Pill, the building is thought to date back to the late 15th or early 16th century.
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The pub building would be untouched during the development, according to proposals, however, a building behind it would be demolished in order for the flats to be built. If the proposals were approved, the development would consist of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
The apartments would be set across four levels with a 'green roof' on top of the building. They would be set behind the restaurant building, being bordered by the A4160 on one side and railway tracks on the other. Since a pre-application meeting, "significant changes" to the design and scale of the development have been made, according to the design and access statement.
However, there have been some objections to the proposals, particularly in terms of parking and its proximity to a listed building. One ward member wrote: "There is inadequate parking in the Barons Court car park for the residents of nine flats, visitors and customers of the pub.
"Already pub customers are parking on the old Cogan road when the car park is full, this is obviously before the development, vehicle overflow is going to be chaos. Vehicle access into and exiting an already busy junction will be difficult and accident waiting to happen. The size & design of the development is also not in keeping with the existing listed building, it will be a blot on the landscape. A carbuncle alongside a lovely listed building."
Another wrote: "If they build nine apartments they must provide nine parking spaces for them. This will mean there will be less parking for diners at the restaurant, they are already parking on the Old Barry Road opposite. The Barons Court is a listed building, and would no longer maintain its character and pres. The people who recently took over the building must have had this in mind when they purchased it. I hope they do not get planning permission."
The Victorian Society, having been consulted on the proposed development, also made the objection that the building would not benefit the site of the listed pub. A letter read: "This proposal would see a four-storey residential development close to the Grade II listed building. Through its scale, design and materiality, the proposed new building would not benefit the setting of Barons Court and would actively detract from the listed building. Any acceptable proposal for the site must be of a smaller scale and more respectful to the nearby listed building."
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