Plan to demolish Lincoln pub for Co-op set for green light

Plans to demolish a Lincoln pub to make way for a £2.5 million Lincolnshire Co-op ‘Neighbourhood Centre’ look set to be approved.

The proposal would see the former Monson Arms pub, off Skellingthorpe Road, site revamped and become a food store, shops and apartments.

Councillors on City of Lincoln Council’s planning committee will hear details of the application on January 16.

Officers at the authority have recommended the plans are approved.

The former pub has been closed since the beginning of 2016.

Now, subject to approval from councillors, the building would be demolished and a new 3,000 square foot Lincolnshire Co-op food store would be constructed alongside two smaller commercial units to let.

Above this would be 10 one and two bedroom rental apartments.

Plans also include a car park with 32 spaces for shoppers and 11 for residents.

The new outlet would replace the current Lincolnshire Co-op Swanpool Food Store on the other side of Skellingthorpe Road, and provide 50% more retail space.

Lincolnshire Co-op said jobs at the current Swanpool store would be transferred across with the addition of 10 more roles.

Monson Arms on Skellingthorpe Road, Lincoln. Photo: Richard Croft

The Monson Arms, which had been a part of the community for more than 50 years, was previously source of controversy when plans were submitted for a new care home on the site.

Many local people petitioned to save the pub. The proposals were eventually refused by the City of Lincoln Council and the pub has stood empty for many years since.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Store Development Manager Matthew Wilkinson said: “We have lots of loyal customers and members in that area of the city and we want to invest in developing the services we provide for them.

“The proposed larger outlet would be more accessible, have dedicated customer and residents’ parking and enable us to offer a wider range of products.

“This £2.5m scheme would see the shopping experience in our store vastly improved and make it easier for our hard-working colleagues to provide great service and choice.

“If the plans were approved, we believe we’d be making a positive impact on the local environment too, as we’d be bringing a brownfield site back into economic use.”

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