Public loo in Rayleigh set to be turned into a microbrewery
You might be able to spend more than just a penny in the future
A disused public loo is set to be transformed into a microbrewery bar in the middle of Rayleigh.
A licensing application has now been received by Rochford District Council for a micro-pub and craft beer vendor at the former public conveniences on Crown Hill.
According to documents published on the council website the micro-pub and craft beer business wants permission to sell alcohol between midday and 11pm Monday to Thursday and between midday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
The plan follows planning permission awarded in 2018 for the public loos to be turned into either a shop, restaurant or café, a takeaway.
That permission has since expired and any new business will also need a fresh planning permission
But the district council, which owns the toilets, has previously indicated its desire to see the building put to good commercial use as part of the Rayleigh Centre Action plan – which seeks to promote Rayleigh’s economy
A planning officer speaking at the time of the application 2018 said: “The floor area is modest at some forty square meters and it’s just one one internal space.
“The building is located within Raleigh town centre where policies within the Rayleigh center area action plan apply.
“This plan seeks to promote Raleigh as the main town centre within the district and supports planning applications which proposed use is appropriate to this aim.
“The action plan identifies primary and secondary shopping areas within the town centre where there is policy support for consolidation and strengthening of retail developments.
“The application site lies outside of these specific town centre designations and as a consequence there’s no policy emphasis on securing only retail users in this location.
“Any uses which support the vitality and viability of the town centre are to be supported and any of the proposed uses would fulfill this purpose and are considered acceptable subject to the recommended planning conditions.”
The toilets were replaced in 2019 with a new block built adjacent transferred as a 10 year lease to Rayleigh Town Council.