Royal Standard: CAMRA's concerns as Sheffield restaurant becomes latest to submit 'retrospective' pub plan
Pubs campaign group CAMRA has raised concerns over pubs in Sheffield being converted to other uses - before official permission has been given.
It comes after a retrospective planning application was submitted for the building which was once home to the Royal Standard pub, on St Mary’s Road, near the Sheffield ring road and close to Bramall Lane. It is now running as the Harlem House, an American themed takeaway and restaurant.
But despite having been running for some time, a planning application for the change of use was only submitted in December.
Now Sheffield Campaign for Real Ale has raised concerns over the number of planning applications which are made for former pubs, which they believe are on the rise.
Dave Pickersgill, Pub Heritage Officer, Sheffield and District CAMRA, told The Star: “We are very concerned by the increasing number of retrospective planning applications for change of use from a pub which are submitted to Sheffield City Council.
“For these applications, we would appreciate a rigorous reaction from Planning, a response which makes it clear that this is a serious breach of the law, not a simple administrative process, a response which clearly references the place of Sheffield as one of the best beer cities in the world.”
The organisation has logged a comment with Sheffield Council planning department on the plans for the former Royal Standard.
The organisation had previously said in a statement that in planning terms, the key questions were could the loss a pub be justified in terms of local and national planning policies; and could the loss of a valuable community facility be justified?
They added: “This is a decision for the planning authorities. We are sure they will check that the applicants have carried out a full feasibility study as to the continuing use of the building as a public house before they commenced alterations.”
However, they have also raised concerns two heritage aspects of the building, including stone representations of the ‘Royal Standard’ flag above the two ground floor windows; and ceramic tiling above the main entrance which says ‘Royal Standard.’
They added: “It is not possible to accurately date these artefacts, except to say that they have been in place for many years, possibility for over a century.
“We hope that these heritage aspects will remain after this planning process is complete. We hope that the relevant SCC planning reports for this planning application will make appropriate references.
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“We look forward to the result of this planning application with interest.”
One of the highest profile incidents involving pubs and planning permission came when The Royal Oak, Mosborough, was reduced to rubble in May 2021, only for it to emerge that the owner had failed to get the go-ahead to knock it down at the time.
Harlem House has confirmed it has already opened its take-away, but declined to comment further.
Sheffield Council has been approached for comment.