Agenda item

Prior to consideration of the planning application, the council’s Development Management Lead updated the Committee on an additional letter of representation that had been submitted.  The letter requested that the community asset be kept and not demolished for housing.  The Development Management Lead confirmed that the issue raised had been addressed in the main report and did not change the planning officers recommendations.

An objector then addressed the committee, stating that the property was currently an eyesore.  It was derelict and had been heavily vandalised.  This the objectors believed was part of a concerted effort to grant the application.  The patrons at the Lincoln Imp were one big family, and the loss of the iconic venue would be devastating for the local community.  It was once the third best music venue and a building that people would travel many miles to visit.

The applicant’s agent informed Members that the development would provide twenty affordable apartments, which were desperately needed locally.  It would also provide an outdoor space for the apartments, which was a huge selling point.  There were several public houses less than ten minute walk away.  For a public house to remain open, it needed to be viable.  The Lincoln Imp required circa £300,000 investing in it to allow it to re-open.  The pub had been closed since August 2022.  It had been on the market since it closed but there had been no offers to purchase it.  It had also been designated as an Asset of Community Value but no bid had been received.  No tenants had lived at the premises since 2013.  Every reasonable step had been made by the owners to sell the Lincoln Imp without any success.

Councillor H Rayner, local ward member informed the meeting that there was significant public interest in this planning application.  The Lincoln Imp was at the heart of the community and had historical and social importance.  It was a unique venue and all avenues must be explored to ensure it remained as a public house.

Councillor T Gosling, local ward member was disappointed that the premises owner had allowed the building to fall in to such a poor state of repair.  There had been no investment or maintenance at the premises for a long time.  The planning application would result in over development at the site.  There were insufficient car parking spaces too.  Nothing had changed since the previous application was submitted and ultimately refused by the Committee.

Councillor R Waltham MBE addressed the Members.  He reminded the Committee that he spoke against the development of the site previously and was going to do so again as nothing had changed.  The meeting had heard that Admiral Taverns had allegedly marketed the premises, but there was no evidence to support that statement.  The application was akin to building 20 rabbit hutches which was not acceptable.  This application should again be refused.

Councillor C Ross was disappointed that the Committee was again being asked to consider the development of the site, when nothing, in her opinion, had changed since the previous application. 

Councillor M Grant stated that nothing had changed the previous application was refused by the Committee.

Councillor M Bell believed that buildings of such local and national importance should be preserved and not demolished. 

It was then moved by Councillor C Ross and seconded by Councillor C Sherwood that planning permission be refused for the following reasons –

1.

The proposed development would result in the unacceptable loss of The Lincoln Imp public house which is a valued community facility. There is insufficient justification for the demolition of The Lincoln Imp and the proposals for housing are not considered to outweigh this loss. Therefore, the proposed development would be contrary to policy CS22 of the North Lincolnshire Core Strategy and paragraph 92 of the NPPF.

2.

The proposals would result in insufficient provision of private amenity open space for the future occupiers of the proposed units. Therefore, the proposals are contrary to policy H5 of the North Lincolnshire Local Plan and paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Motion Carried