PLANS have been drawn up for 17 affordable homes on the site of the 171-yar-old Sportsman’s Arms pub at Penketh, Warrington.
The proposals have been submitted to the borough council by developers Cordage 5 Ltd.
Twelve semi-detached houses and five terraced properties are proposed for the site, following demolition of the pub.
If the scheme is approved it will mark the end of a lengthy battle to save the black-and-white, half-timbered pub.
As recently as 2016, the borough council agreed to list the pub as a community asset, following a campaign by the real ale group CAMRA, local users and Warrington Civic Society. Local councillors also backed the campaigners.
In 2012, it had been named “community pub of the year” for the North West by brewery company Marstons.
At one time, plans were put forward to build a supermarket on the site – but these never progressed.
The Sportsman’s Arms is believed to date from 1850 – but at the time of the final struggle to save the building, the then landlord supported the demolition scheme on the grounds the pub was not being supported by the local community.
Another pub – the Red Lion – stands immediately opposite on the other side of Warrington Road.
