Village pub near Sheffield could be demolished for new homes

The Butcher's Arms, at Marsh Lane, near Eckington, has been empty for three years and developers want to knock it down and use the land to build four three-bedroomed properties.

Envy Developments Limited has submitted plans to North East Derbyshire District Council for the demolition and the closure of a public footpath which runs to the side of the building.

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The company says: “The application seeks full planning permission for the demolition of the vacant Butcher’s Arms public house and the residential development of four, two-storey, three-bedroom terraced dwellings on the site, with accommodation to the roof space.”

The number of homes proposed has been reduced to four dwellings from the five proposed in previous applications ‘in order to better reflect both the existing character of the site and that of the wider village’.

Planning documents say the former pub is ‘structurally unsound’ and the building ‘shows external evidence of ongoing movement, and several of the internal structural timbers are showing signs of degradation’.

They say the loss of the former public house is ‘not an issue for consideration’ as the site already has planning permission for the conversion of the building into two homes and a shop.

The developers added: “Whilst the provision of a shop was balanced against the loss of a facility it was not considered that the loss of the public house would diminish the services available to the residents given that similar services are readily accessible.”

However, a number of residents in Marsh Lane have written letters of objection to the development, listing concerns ranging from potential parking problems to the loss of a footpath.

Julie Furniss said the village did not need ‘more housing’ and the shop originally included in proposals would have been more useful.

Marsh Lane resident Lisa Shires said: “The loss of yet another public footpath for the sake of an extra couple of inches of garden. Walking these footpaths is everyone's right and should be left for generations to come not stolen by greedy builders.

“Knocking down the pub and replacing it with housing doesn't fit in with the rural feeling of Marsh Lane.”

The plans are under consideration at North East Derbyshire District Council.

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