February 1, 2012 1.42 pm This story is over 150 months old

Controversial pub proposal for empty Strait shop

Pub on The Strait: Planning application wants to turn a Strait shop vacant for seven years into a pub.

A new public house could move to an empty unit in Lincoln if the planning application is approved next week.

Agents Raw Design are proposing to bring a pub to The Strait at the bottom of Steep Hill in a unit currently boarded up.

As well as the pub transformation, a fire escape and balcony would also be added to the building, and the old timber windows and asbestos roofing replaced.

Retail unit 29-31 on The Strait has remained empty since the Catalogue Shop moved out almost seven years ago.

A previous application in 2006 included the ground floor of the shop in plans, also as a pub, but no work was carried out.

The application will be put before the City of Lincoln Council Planning Committee, due to Councillor Karen Lee feeling the proposal has generated a lot a debate within the local area.

Some local residents are opposing the application due to concerns that not only would noise levels rise, but also a lack of privacy and impact on the surrounding design, particularly Museum Court.

Certain residents also feel that a pub could encourage anti-social behaviour and there are ‘already too many pubs in the area’.

Lincolnshire County Council and Lincoln BIG have so far supported the plans.

The council visited the site last year to consider the impact on the environment due to the proposal being based in the Cathedral Quarter.

While the surveyor found no issue with the unit becoming a pub, it is recommended that opening hours and bottle removing is limited to certain times of the day to reduce noise for local residents.

The report concluded: “The proposal will not be harmful to the mixture of uses in the area and residential amenity.

“It provides a good opportunity to get this building back into use having been vacant for a number of years.”

The application will be considered by the Planning Committee on February 8.

Councillors are advised to grant the application despite opposition, provided the applicant includes soundproofing in the refurb and opening hours and deliveries do not cause noise issues to locals.