A controversial development of a disused pub in Wigan has been approved despite concerns it may turn the area into a ‘troublesome estate’. A total of 27 objections were submitted to the council to stop The Crown being converted into a shop, pharmacy, hairdressers and flats.
The Sefton Road site has been vacant for a number of years but neighbours in the residential area don’t want this plan to change the place for the worse. Antisocial behaviour, potential increased footfall as well as rats and litter from leftover food are all big issues for the residents in Worsley Mesnes.
Locals believe these flats could be turned into a ‘halfway house’ - which has not been confirmed in the plans - and there is worry this could devalue homes already in the area.
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One letter of objection, whose name has been redacted from the planning documents, said: “I want to formally log my opinion AGAINST this planning. The area is slowly turning from a decent, friendly neighbourhood, to potentially troublesome estate due to the extra houses that have been erected on the site of the old care home there.
“We are suspecting the so-called five flats that have been proposed will house potential troublemakers and that the two retail units and takeaway will cause more traffic, litter and dodgy people around an area that has lots of decent families with young children. There are already enough shops and takeaways in the area and this already causes trouble with parking on paths and double yellows as it is.”
The planning has since been changed to three flats from five - but the problem of parking still remains from residents. The 3-bed flat and the two 2-bed flats have a total of four parking spaces allocated to them with one extra for the shops.
After approving the plans, Wigan Council said a road assessment will have to take place to look at this issue before new residents can move in. Despite the representations against the plan from SP Property (Roche) LTD, council deemed this ‘satisfactory’.
Reviewing the objections, a planning report said: “It is considered that the majority of the material points raised in the representations have been addressed within this report, particularly around issues relating to highway safety, impact on amenity and the proposed tenure of the residential units. With regard to points around the need or viability of the proposed retail uses, it is considered that the purpose of determining this planning application is not to decide whether a business venture is financially viable or not, but to assess whether the change of use would be acceptable in planning terms, the latter factors being addressed within the main body of this report.”
David Proctor, Assistant Director for Planning and Regeneration at Wigan Council said “The approved application for the conversion of The Crown Pub on Sefton Road includes three self-contained flats, alongside the commercial uses detailed.”
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