Car park plan at historic pub is refused for second time

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have thrown out proposals for a car park at the rear of a historic pub believed to date from the 17th century – for the second time in seven months.

They say the scheme at the former Marquis of Granby pub in Church Street, Warrington, is an improvement on the previous one.

But the development would still cause harm to the character of the Church Street Conservation Area and to the Grade 2 Listed pub building.
In addition, the car park is accessed from Ellison Street – also known as Jackson’s Passage – which is not suitable for vehicular traffic.
The Marquis of Granby has not traded as a pub for some time and in 2021 planning permission was granted for the black-and-white, half-timbered building to be used as a health and well-being centre.
No application was made for a car park at the time and planners decided one was not needed because of the availability of on-street parking in the area.
But then the applicants, The Egerton Trust, created a car park in a former garden area at the rear of the building and their retrospective application for planning consent was refused in October last year.
Objections have been received from members of the public and ward councillors.

Refusing the scheme again, planners say the principle of providing car parking in association with the use of the former pub as a medical and wellbeing service is considered to be acceptable.
However, the development causes harm to the character and setting of the Church Street Conservation Area and the significance of the Listed Building to which it relates, which is not outweighed by any public benefits of the development.
Despite proposed highway improvements, planners say the site cannot be accessed by vehicular traffic in a safe way which would prioritise the needs of pedestrians and other non-motorised traffic, so is ultimately unsuitable for this use.