Hertfordshire news: Former 'eyesore' Cheshunt pub can be turned into shop and flats

A former pub in Cheshunt can be turned into commercial space and flats after Broxbourne Borough Council’s planning committee green lit the plans on Tuesday (January 28). 99 Turners Hill, in Cheshunt town centre, used to be home to O’Sheas Irish Bar but it has not been open since 2022.

Planning permission was sought to demolish the existing building and replace it with commercial space on the ground floor and five flats on the first and second floors. There will also be a sixth flat in a separate building. Each flat will get one car parking space, with a seventh spot reserved for staff at the commercial unit, which is likely to be used as a shop.

Council officers said the building, which was locally listed as being of historical importance around the time of a previous planning application, is in a “state of disrepair” and could not be easily converted for residential use. They recommended approving permission for the proposals, which councillors on the planning committee agreed with.

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Cllr Siobhan Monaghan described the building as an “incredible eyesore” at the moment, and said: “I’ve spent many a lovely evening in this particular building, and it would be lovely if it was retained as a pub.” But, she added, given that was not possible it is “good to see it now being developed out into something else”.

Similarly, Cllr Tony Siracusa said: “It should come back into use. It’s been sitting empty for so long and it deserves a new lease of life.” Parking was an issue raised by Cllr Carol Crump, who said: “Parking is absolutely abysmal around there and I can only see this making it worse.”

Discussion led to a condition for allocated parking being added to the application, ensuring spaces are given to those occupying the building. Officers said the new building’s frontage would be a “genuine attempt” to ensure it resembled the existing building “as much as possible”.

They concluded that the heritage loss is “acceptable” because it would “provide much needed housing and a flexible commercial use at ground floor level within a town centre location”.