Historic Lincoln pub demolition for student housing rejected

City councillors refused a plan to turn the site of a 60-year-old Lincoln High Street pub into new student housing.

The Golden Cross pub would have been flattened to build a three storey, 47 bedroom accommodation.

Councillors were asked to approve the principle of the site becoming student housing before a full proposal to demolish the building could be submitted.

But City of Lincoln Council’s planning committee rejected the plan by Lomas Architecture Design and Developments Ltd, which said there was a need for more student housing.

The pub was built in 1959 and is popular with Lincoln City fans on matchdays.

Meanwhile, the developer said it recognised that the pub had a “historic significance”, but added that its loss would “not be a detriment” to the area.

Designs for student housing on the Golden Cross pub site, High Street.

The outline plan proposed student accommodation in its place and included 47 en-suite rooms, a common room and kitchen on each floor, as well as two laundry rooms for the first and second floors.

Chris Henderson, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, said traditional pubs were “struggling to survive” in the current economic climate and that student housing would be a “positive” for the city.

“The applicant has had to consider his future and Lincoln is thriving and bucking the trend,” he said.

“Much of that is down to the university and student accommodation in this area can only be seen as a positive.”

But councillors said there was “insufficient information” in the proposal to “demonstrate that the development could be accommodated without damaging the area”.

Designs on the High Street side of the plan for the Golden Cross pub.

Councillor Ronald Hills, who proposed rejecting the plan, said: “There comes a time when we have to say ‘enough is enough’.

“If this site is right for a development then I feel that it should be for local people.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Bob Bushell said he was “concerned” about the application because the full plan, including final design and demolition, was not brought before the committee.

“I do not see why the full application cannot come before this committee,” he said.

“I am usually supportive of student housing in this city and I know that we need it, but not at any price.”

Councillors also said that the scale of the building was “too big” for the area and was not in keeping with Queen Street.

The plan was refused by eight votes to two.

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