Tatton Arms restoration set for thumbs down

A plan to restore a derelict pub in Greater Manchester – including apartments, houses and a riverside café – looks set to be knocked back by planners.

The scheme at the former Tatton Arms pub on the banks of the River Mersey in Northenden, goes before the Wythenshaw Area Committee soon, but council planners have recommended refusal.

Britannia Group wants to re-develop the dilapidated building, vacant since 2006, into nine apartments while restoring its historic exterior.

The proposal also includes the building of 14 new houses, providing much needed family homes, plus a riverside café with toddlers play area and a disabled access to the adjacent river footbridge across the River Mersey.
 
Britannia claims the plans received overwhelming local support after they were put out for public consultation last summer.

It also says the Northenden Civic Society had no objections to the proposal and the Northenden Neighbourhood Forum also independently voted at their recent general meeting to support the development.
 
“Council officers have accepted that in order to retain the existing building, some additional development is necessary, but have still recommended refusal,” a Britannia statement said. “The applicant has raised concerns at what they feel is a lack of willingness from officers to discuss their position.”

Dave McCall, director of award-winning OMI Architects, the designers of the scheme, said, “Manchester City Council have given no clear justification for its position and, more importantly, no guidance on what may be a workable solution from its point of view.

“Despite numerous requests over the past months, they have refused to meet with us.  Issuing a refusal to this application simply condemns the Tatton Arms to a future of dereliction, where it is not viable for anyone to restore it.

“We clearly need to find a solution here and at the moment Britannia Group is the only party willing to commit to rescuing this site. On the other hand, the Council seem happy to let it rot.”

Awais Shahid, Britannia Group’s operations director, said: “We are extremely disappointed and frustrated that planning officers have come to this recommendation despite extensive consultation with case officers and overwhelming public support for our plans.

“The approval of the plans would mean we could set about sensitively transforming this important landmark to complement the impressive improvements we have seen to this part of the river Mersey in recent years.

“Planners do not appear to support a considered and deliverable scheme, but would rather see the building further deteriorate and potentially be lost forever. It is imperative that Wythenshawe Area Committee listen to the locals, and approve this application.”

TheBusinessDesk has contacted Manchester City Council for a comment.

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