THE council has thrown out plans to demolish a closed pub and build a housing estate in its place.

Plans had been submitted to Warrington Borough Council’s planning department in relation to the former Orford pub The Poplars.

The venue went up for sale in February last year for £425,000 after closing, with proposals drawn up in March to level the site.

In its place, Applicant K&L Properties sought permission to build 14 homes in its place, along with new access and 32 car parking spaces at the Cotswold Road site.

But the council has refused planning permission for a number of given reasons.

At present, the land is currently occupied by the vacant public house, which is a large single and two-storey building, along with tarmacked car parks.

“The outline brief is to redevelop the site for housing, at a density, unit size and form consistent with the locality, market and need, bringing this disused brownfield site back into efficient and sustainable use,” documents state.

“The proposal is for a development comprising 14 three-bedroom, five-person, two-and-a-half-storey townhouses, arranged in three blocks of between three and eight homes.”

They go on to say: “The applicant intends to bring an unused and deteriorating site back into use with a wholly appropriate, sustainable housing development.

“The site is in a highly sustainable location close to good shops, services, public transport links, employment areas and education.

“The proposed development will bring high-quality family housing to this part of Warrington and contribute to the supply of new housing within the borough.

“In summary, the proposal is a well thought out design that efficiently uses the site, contributes positively to the streetscape and represents a highly sustainable development.”

The application was publicised by 45 neighbour notification letters, site notices and a press notice, resulting in two letters of support being submitted highlighting the need for housing on a site has been empty for a while, which would be ‘good for the area’.

In refusing permission, the council said: “The proposal is unacceptable in principle.

“The proposal has an unacceptable impact on highway safety through lack of servicing.

“The layout fails to deliver a good level of residential amenity for future occupiers and has an adverse impact on the residential amenity of adjoining residential properties.

“The proposal does not provide a policy compliant level of affordable housing and does not address housing needs, and no information relating to appropriate levels of biodiversity net gain have been provided.

“No mitigation is proposed for the proposed impact on education from the development.”