TALKS are ongoing over retirement apartments on the site of the former Sportsman’s Arms pub at Penketh which has been “left to rot” according to a near neighbour.
The site, once earmarked for a Netto supermarket, was granted permission for 16 affordable homes in 2021, with a current application for 56 retirement apartments on the site, which has continued to deteriorate.
Local resident Mary Ross said: “Since the first (failed) application by Netto supermarkets to demolish the Sportsman’s Arms in Penketh in May 2016, up to present, the site of the pub has been left to, quite literally, rot.
“An ill-advised and unproductive Asset of Community Value order was put on the building and the surrounding land, preventing demolition for five years. Planning permission has been granted for at least two potential developments since the ACV expired but none has come to fruition. In December last year, after an online consultation, Churchill submitted plans for private retirement flats. A decision was due in April but so far we have heard nothing.
“There have been no serious objections from residents, though Highways has objected on parking grounds. Either way, there is certainly a need for private retirement accommodation in this area. Meanwhile, the site has deteriorated further. The photos speak for themselves. I cannot find the words to describe it. I live just yards away from this site and it turns my stomach every time I have to pass it”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We investigate untidy land and take action where it is in the public interest to do so. Such instances should be reported directly to us and we can then provide updates to the interested party.
“There is a housing need in the borough and in June 2021 planning permission was granted for 16 affordable houses on this site. The current application for 56 retirement apartments is currently under consideration. Discussions in relation to the site are on-going.”
First look at proposed apartments to replace once popular Sportsmans Arms pub
1 Comment
We are having thousands of new homes built down the road and are in more need of social places revolving around the community and not “retirement Homes” that never are retirement homes when sold. We’ve seen time and time again where buildings are bought and allowed to decay by developers so they can get community and council backing to demolish and build cheap “affordable homes” that never are affordable. The Sportsman’s Arms has been a part of Penketh life for many years and its sickening to see what’s happening to the place. It’s such an Iconic building and I’d like to see it kept and better utilised with it still partly being a pub.