A THIRD attempt is being made to win planning consent for a piece of vacant land at the rear of the former Marquis of Granby pub in Church Street, Warrington.
Plans to convert the Grade 2 Listed pub itself into a health and wellbeing centre got the go-ahead more than two years go.
But plans to use the land at the rear as a car park were twice thrown out by Warrington borough council planning chiefs, on the grounds that the proposed access from Ellison Street – also known as Jackson’s Passage – was unsuitable for vehicular traffic.
The new proposal is to use the land as an outdoor health and wellbeing space, suitable for pilates, stretching and other treatments. The access from Ellison Street would be fenced off and the area covered with artificial turf.
The Marquis of Granby has not traded as a pub for some years. Although it is believed to date from the 17th century it was heavily restored in the 19th century. But it remains a landmark building in the Church Street conservation area, which contains a number of other Listed buildings, including the National School and Sykes’ shoe repair shop.
The conservation area itself is on English Heritage’s “At Risk” register where is noted as being in “Very Bad” condition.
Planning consultants supporting the scheme say the land at the rear of the former pub has been historically underused, Surfacing the site with astroturf and other external works to the entrance would provide for efficient use of the land consummate with the approved use of the former pub.
