Pub in High Ercall makes plans to secure its future
A pub is hoping to secure its future with plans to build two new houses and make major alterations to the current restaurant.
The Cleveland Arms, in High Ercall near Telford, hopes that the changes will allow it to become sustainable – something its owners say is currently not possible.
Owners John Hickinbottom and Susan King have applied to create a new public house with staff accommodation and letting studio above, two further homes on the site, and restore the rest of the pub to its original use.
After the previous owner sold off some of the car park for housing development, the pair said the pub had been left "unviable" because of parking issues and poor pub layout.
Base Architects, in documents on behalf of the applicatnts, said: "In order that this pub is economically and socially sustainable it is essential that it operates efficiently and attractively.
"It is essential that the provision of the conversion of the existing building into a house and two further market dwellings are included within the scheme in order to fund the capital cost of the alteration.
"The existing bowling green will be retained as an important social amenity of the pub."
At the moment, the applicants say the pub is not viable as the building's kitchens and public areas are not arranged in a way that is safe or operationally acceptable, the size is not competitive within the other offers locally, and the impact of the new housing development has impacted on the presentation and accessibility of the pub.
Documents added: "Being part of the conservation area, it is seen that if no action is taken and the building left redundant, it will be lost as both a physical and social focal point within this community.
"In terms of the sequence of development, it will be essential to convert the main building into a house first in order to raise the capital value of the site so as to generate the funds to create the new pub facilities.
"The development of two houses and the leasing of the bowling green will further serve to finance the overall project."
The plans are available to view on Telford & Wrekin Council's website.
