Supported retirement living apartments on hold in Bridlington
It's amid church building demolition and neighbouring pub noise concerns
Plans to demolish a former Bridlington church to build retirement apartments have been put on hold amid heritage concerns and cover music and karaoke from a pub next door.
East Riding Council’s Eastern Area Planning Committee voted to defer plans for 15 supported living apartments in Bridlington’s St John Street so they could visit the site.
Applicant’s agent Darren Turner told councillors the two-storey apartment block would give older people a safe community environment to live in while the former Priory Church had little architectural merit.
But councillors said they were unsure about tearing down the 19th Century building, which was converted into a builders’ merchants,. and about potentially hampering The Old Ship Inn pubs’ trade.
Plans for the apartment block, aimed at over 55s, would see the former church demolished to make way for the new building which would include 12 parking spaces.
The site lies on the same street as the Grade II-listed Bridlington Methodist Church and near the boundary of the Old Town Conservation Area.
Applicants Burlington Care stated in their plans that the building would be made up of one bedroom apartments and shared support facilities.
But four objections were lodged against the plans including over concerns there would not be enough parking spaces, along with an objection from The Old Ship Inn’s landlady.
Mr Turner told councillors the new building would respect those already on St John Street.
The agent said: “The building on the site was up until recently a builders’ merchant.
“It does have historical associations but extensive alterations over time have stripped it of any architectural interest.
“It’s among a hodge podge of buildings and we’ve concluded that a much better development could be achieved through a new building.
“Only a limited number of those living here would have cars, they will be provided with a parking area in a discreet location to minimise the impact.”
But pub landlady Line Neverdal said in her objection she had concerns about the plans.
The landlady said: “There is already limited parking on St John Street, we already have difficulties when deliveries are made.
“In the application it states that the property looks over private gardens, in fact it looks the public house beer garden.
“The pub currently has a 1am licence on on weekends and midnight during week days, there will be light and ambient noise coming from this area during licensed hours.
“The pub has live music and karaoke on weekends, we currently have no noise complaints from the neighbouring properties but this project is closer so I’m concerned it could become an issue.”
Bridlington South ward’s Cllr John Copsey said he lived close to the site and said the Priory Church building was far from outstanding.
But he added he had reservations given the next door pub.
Cllr Copsey said: “There’s a call for this type of building, but I wouldn’t like it to stunt the pub’s trade.
“The pub’s been there for 150 years, but people living in this building may start complaining because its noisy.”
Committee Chair Cllr Sue Steel said a site visit was the right decision at this stage.
Cllr Steel said: “Even when I visited the site myself I came away with no clearer idea as to what would be happening.”