Housing plans for failed Warwick pub

A planning application has been submitted to convert the Great Western in Coventry Road into a residential development containing four town houses and a block of five flats.

The pub building on the corner of Station Road and opposite the railway station stopped trading in June 2015 and has been empty since.

Described by developers as being the ideal way to transform the site of a business which has been in decline for several years, the scheme would completely redevelop the site with homes, gardens and garages. An application statement reads: “The Great Western public house business has been in decline since 2008. The public house is not considered to be financially viable and the property was placed on the market.

“Residential use is considered appropriate as the surrounding buildings are predominantly residential and there are amenities such as shops and schools.”

Proposals are for a complete redevelopment of the large site involving demolition of part of the existing building, change of use and building the homes with garages.

If approved by Warwick District Council planners, the four new houses will be three storeys in height with a basement area to provide two parking spaces per house.

An additional six spaces would also be provided for visitors and overflow.

The existing pub building would be converted into one- and two-bedroomed flats.

Pedestrian access to the flats will be made through the basement, with alternative routes for the four houses.

No objections have yet been lodged to the proposed development, and a bat survey to address potential ecological concerns found “no signs of bat activity or occupation” with the likelihood of roosting species considered negligible.

The plans will be debated by councillors in the coming weeks.