Former Wigan pub to become flats after planning permission granted

Plans to turn a former pub into flats have finally been approved after initial proposals were withdrawn earlier in the year.

The former Halfway House in Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, appears set for a transformation into seven self-contained flats, giving a new lease of life to the building that has been vacant since July 2019 when the pub closed its doors.

Similar plans had been submitted earlier in 2020, but for eight flats. They were withdrawn when a planning officer’s report deemed certain alterations and extensions to be unacceptable.

The report from Wigan Council’s infrastructure department had also raised objections regarding the parking provisions set out in the documents.

Under the local authority’s parking standards, the applicant would be expected to provide one car parking space per one bed flat and 1.5 car parking spaces per two bed flat, as well as one secure cycle provision per flat.

The proposal was for five one bed flats and three two bed flats and therefore, would have required nine car parking spaces.

However, the blueprints only accounted for four parking spaces for the entire building.

But the planning committee has given the thumbs up to amended plans from Westhoughton based M & S Project Development Ltd, which comprise one less apartment and only minor alterations to the exterior of the building.

This time, a fresh report said: “The pub has been vacant for over 12 months and has fallen into disrepair and currently has a detrimental impact on the street scene in a very prominent location.

“In the current climate it is not considered likely that it would be viable as a drinking establishment.”

One objection was submitted against the amended plans, by a resident who said: “The area is already lacking any decent pubs/wine bars/[eateries]. The conversion of this building into seven flats not only wipes another piece of Pemberton’s history off the map but also worries me that seven flats within that one building does not provide adequate living space.”

They added: “Due to this, I feel that such small living quarters will no doubt house council placed drug users and other undesirables as no working person would live in such accommodation.”

The objection was addressed by a planning officer, who explained: “As stated earlier in the report, the site is close to Pemberton town centre and there are other shops, services and pubs within walking distance of the site, or easily accessible by public transport. There is no evidence that the future occupiers of the flats will cause antisocial behaviour issues.”

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