Plan to convert Leicestershire pub and build three cottages in car park

A plan to convert a Leicestershire pub into a family home and build three cottages in its car park has been put forward. Applicant Forest Mere Estates has submitted the scheme for The Poacher's Brasserie, formerly The Dog and Gun, at 22 Church Street, Thurlaston.

Application documents sent to Blaby District Council describe the existing 17th Century public house as an "important heritage asset". The proposed change of use would not alter the existing style of the property nor its appearance in the "street scene", the application adds.

The applicant also states in the documents that the internal layout of the existing property would be developed to "create family rooms", and the commercial ventilation units would be removed to "improve the appearance of the building". Important features of the existing property would be retained, the developer adds.

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Alongside the conversion, the application includes a development of three, three-bed terraced homes at the back of the car park. Documents state the proposed cottages have been designed to "minimise their dominance on the existing buildings in the vicinity by using building materials that match the local area".

A proposed garage block would accommodate four cars, one for each of the homes, according to the planning application. An additional parking space would be allocated outside the garage door for each property, it adds.

Access to the new homes would be via the original entrance from Church Street to the existing property, plans note. The application also states that the site in question has a "low/very low" flood risk.

BDC's neighbourhood services department has said it would need more information on how waste would be dealt with at the properties before it could comment on the scheme.

The application states that the pub industry has been in steady decline nationally for many years and has been "exasperated with restrictions brought about from the pandemic". Therefore, it states, the decision has been taken by the pub's owner to apply for a change of use of the premises and convert the pub to a home in an "attractive and sought-after village".

There have been five comments on the plans to date, three of which are objections. However, BDC does not allow the public to view the details of comments on planning applications. The deadline for commenting is Thursday, November 28. A decision is expected to be made by Tuesday, December 31.

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