Developers await final decision on plans for major revamp of The Lawn

Plans for the transformation of The Lawn in uphill Lincoln into a visitor attraction complete with a restaurant, café and theatre will be considered by city councillors next week.

RW Stokes & Sons, who were in November 2014 selected as the preferred bidder for the sale of the Grade II listed building, revealed their initial designs for the development in December 2015.

The Lawn in Lincoln. Photo: Michael Hill

The Lawn would become the company’s headquarters, and would house a coffee roastery, packaging, storage, offices, a viewing area, café and restaurant.

New jobs would be created through additional retail outlets and the restaurant outlined in the plans, and events space would be utilised for themed evenings such as jazz nights, live music and theatrical performances.

An artist’s impression of how the East Wing of The Lawn would look under the proposals.

As part of the redevelopment, the Joseph Banks Conservatory would be demolished, as would a later single storey extension to the side elevation of The Lawn.

Historic England has welcomed the proposed demolition of the conservatory, which closed in late-2014 and housed tropical fish and plants, describing it as detracting from the significance and setting of the 19th century building.

A new site for the conservatory has been earmarked for development and would be funded and undertaken by the Sir Joseph Banks Society.

The single storey extension, built in the 1980s, would be replaced by a glazed restaurant area overlooking the terrace.

The Joseph Banks Conservatory at The Lawn in Lincoln. Photo: Richard Croft

An increase in car parking spaces from 114 to 200 is included in the plans, with further provisions planned for businesses based in the building.

However, this part of the proposed redevelopment would see the loss of a significant number of trees, which the city council has conceded is “disappointing”.

Alterations would also be made to the boundary wall with Union Road, to lower and add railings.

The proposed site plan, ahead of a finalised planning application.

The sale of the building and some of the grounds from the city council to Stokes is understood not to have been finalised at this stage.

Council officers have recommended that the development is approved, subject to working starting within three years.

Councillors on City of Lincoln Council’s Planning Committee will decide whether to approve the proposals at a meeting on April 6.