New plan for empty Worcester pub
It's for the Garibaldi Inn, on Bromyard Road
Another attempt has been made to convert an empty Worcester pub into flats.
New plans by Nick Carroll Architects would see the Garibaldi Inn, on Bromyard Road, extended and turned into five one-bed flats.
The latest plan includes five parking bays, in a bid to address concerns raised in previous applications.
Proposals to convert the former St John’s pub into six flats were rejected by Worcester City Council’s planning committee last year, but an appeal was lodged with the government’s planning inspectorate, in the hope of getting the decision overturned.
The plan was unanimously rejected by councillors in July last year over fears it would make parking problems near the busy city gateway even worse which the government inspector agreed with before throwing out the appeal.
Despite the strong objection from Worcestershire County Council’s highways department over the shortfall in parking, planning officers in Worcester had recommended to the planning committee that the plan should be given the green light.
Highways officers had stressed that at least eight car parking spaces – five more than had been proposed – would be needed to serve the new apartments before the plan could be supported.
The shortfall in parking was criticised by some members of the planning committee, who said it would be “irresponsible” to approve a plan with little regard for adequate parking spaces.
It was not the first time city councillors had been asked to make a decision on the future of the pub in the city’s Bromyard Road, with a previous plan to convert the pub – which has been empty since 2019 – into seven flats rejected by planning officers in 2020.
A statement included with the application said: “This proposal offers adequate living conditions complying with building standards for each flat. The proposal also offers sufficient shared amenity space for the residents of the building and an enclosed cycle and bin store.
“There is no major enlargement of the building and no overlooking issues with neighbouring properties.
“Furthermore, the building has been set back on the first floor to respect the 45-degree line from the neighbour.”
You can have your say on the plan by visiting Worcester City Council’s website.
The application number is 22/00628/FUL and consultation ends on September 7.