Plans to restore a pub’s green tiles and revamp the inside have been tweaked again, making it more likely they will be approved.
Developer Charlie Southall submitted two sets of plans to restore the Montreal Arms, which has continued to deteriorate since he ripped half its historic tiles off two years ago.
One proposal to flip the tiles onto the top half of the building’s facade and turn the bottom into a commercial space were turned down earlier this month.
The other plan, which restores the tiles in their original location, first said the ground floor usage would be converted – but was quickly amended to retain its use as a pub.
But a planning policy officer said that the lack of toilets on the ground floor and the separation of the flat above meant it would not comply with Brighton and Hove City Council’s policy to preserve pubs.
Now, the plans have again been amended to include a block of three gender neutral toilets, and to keep the flat above for the use of the pub management.
The proposed changes to the current building are now raising the roof, taking down rear extensions and adding a new one.
It is now much more likely that planning officers will recommend the plans be approved – but as there are five comments objecting to the scheme, this decision would then have to be made by the Planning Committee.
However, if they recommend refusal, this can still be done under delegated powers – unless five or more people comment in support of the plans.
Policy officer Helen Pennington said: “There was previous policy concern that the demolition of the extensions included removal of toilet facilities. The revised plans submitted now clearly show the location of facilities such as toilets, which appear to be acceptable.
“The revised description and plans seek to retain the existing ancillary accommodation (sui generis use) at first floor level, which would be accessed through the pub. This is welcomed and should help maintain the pub’s desirability to new operators.
“It is noted that the proposed amendments would change the layout from a four-bedroomed flat with bathroom and kitchen but no living space, to a two-bedroomed flat with bathroom and open plan living/kitchen space.
“This is considered an improvement in layout and more likely to achieve the national described space standards.”
Meanwhile, Mr Southall has been served with an enforcement order to reinstate the tiles by mid-July.
Click here to see the amended plans, and to comment on them.
Just get on with it, ffs.
The man is dragging his heels. What a twit.
The Council should crack on with a full enforced restoration and re-charge the owner.
I’ve been thinking this for ages. Do it and bill him.
I suppose he thinks he is playing a game, but vandalism of historic buildings is not cool and he does not have the support of the public over this spat.
Probably one of the shouty blokes that eats at places like Burnt Orange and ruins the evening for everyone else. We all know the type. Red face and Rolex.
Have you not seen him? He looks like Morph’s friend Chas on a coke bender.
I think this man has learned a valuable lesson in ‘why you shouldn’t open / build / purchase a business or property in Brighton’ — unless you enjoy the aesthetic of decay. Blackpool 2.0.
You’re not really ‘buying’ a property or land in Brighton, you’re paying decades of rent up-front and the council / NIMBY’s will then give you their plans for the site as your landlord. You’re simply the middle-man (fool) who purchased it for them.
Not really mate, it’s historic and he didn’t use his noodle. Unfortunately he’s woken up to the fact you can’t just do what you want if you have enough money and dam everyone else who have to love with the consequences.
Council need to ban HMOs next
Council will never ban HMOs, mainly because they can’t, and also because that’s a really, really silly idea.
I thought “gender neutral” loos were now not the done thing ?
Never met a woman that likes what boys do to toilets when beer is involved…
Boys and man-babies maybe. Men should be able to keep their quite literal shit together and not make a mess or clean up after themselves. Christ, do they still need their mummies to wipe and clean their arses aged 40? 😆
My wife tells me that women’s loos are far worse than men’s.
It’s considerably easier to maintain gender neutral toilets of the “little tiny room” type, especially if they share a relatively-open sink area. If a given toilet goes out of order then everyone is one toilet down. Compare this to a fault in single-gender bathrooms that can mean several toilets are affected and that one gender can’t use the loos at all. As the toilets are single-person and built like rooms (not flimsy cubicles) then they’re perfectly secure for the user. If the sink area is open-plan then it’s less vulnerable to vandalism and drug use, and anyone loitering would be doing so in the view of witnesses. This is why schools are moving towards them more than any political motive. The only real downside is the loss of urinals for those who find them more convenient.
Gender Neutral Toilets should not be included.
For many women, sex-segregated facilities provide a safeguarded space, free from the potential threat of harassment or assault from men. This fear is not unfounded, as studies have shown that mixed-sex spaces can increase the risk of verbal, physical, and sexual harassment against women. Not to mention the mess.
Gender neutral toilets. How utterly disgusting. Another place to cross of my list.