PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have thrown out a retrospective application for a car park at the rear of a historic pub building believed to date from the 17th century.
The Grade 2 Listed Marquis of Granby in Church Street, Warrington has not traded as a pub for some time and last year planning permission was granted for the black-and-white, half-timbered building to be used as a health and well-being centre.
No application was made for a car park at the time and planners decided one was not needed because of the availability of on-street parking in the area.
But since then, a car park has been created in a former garden area at the rear of the building.
Applicants The Egerton Trust applied retrospectively for the car park to be granted planning permission.
But Warrington Borough Council planning officers have ruled that the development and associated fencing causes harm to the character and appearance of the Church Street Conservation Area and the Listed Building which is not outweighed by any public benefits of the scheme.
The car park has 10 spaces and is intended for staff parking. Access is via Ellison Street – which is not suitable for vehicular traffic.
Objections were received from members of the public and ward councillors and also from borough council transport officers who said the proposal represented a significant and unnecessary road safety risk.
In addition, the car park does not conform to local highway authority standards.
