Plans to demolish a 19th Century pub and hotel to make way for flats have been tipped for approval despite a raft of more than 150 objections.
Developer Halsall Lloyd has tabled plans to demolish The Peacock Hotel in Main Street, Huthwaite, to make way for 22 new flats.
The pub and hotel date back to 1832, but the business ceased operations in May 2024.
Today it is boarded up.
Ashfield District Council is expected to approve the proposals at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday (December 10).
However, the plans have been hit with 157 objections, with many relating to the demolition of the building, instead of its re-purposing.
Marta Dobrzynska said in her objection: “Instead of demolition, we urge the council to explore avenues for restoration and re-purposing.
“With thoughtful investment, The Peacock could once again become a vibrant asset to the community, perhaps as a re-envisioned pub, a community centre, or a heritage attraction. Once gone, it is gone forever.
“We have a responsibility to future generations to preserve our heritage, not to carelessly discard it for short-term gain. The demolition of The Peacock Pub would be a profound and regrettable loss for Huthwaite and a diminished legacy for British heritage.”
Another objecting resident, Suzanne Forrest, said: “As a resident of Huthwaite, I feel very strongly against this application to demolish a valuable part of the village’s history to make way for flats.”
According to documents, the council’s planning officers raised concerns with the agent regarding the development’s impact on nearby residents, particularly those living at Orchard Cottage in Boots Yard, located to the south of the proposed building.
Orchard Cottage has several windows facing the site.
The developer has since made changes to the plans, resulting in a reduction in the height of the building to two storeys at the southern wing.
It will now also feature a sloped roof, meaning the number of flats has been reduced from 23 to 22.
Halsall Lloyd has further agreed to a condition requiring a record to be produced of the building to Historic England standards, to maintain its records in the history books for years to come.
In coming to a decision to recommend the scheme’s approval, the council’s planners said: “Amendments to the scheme have resulted in the number of flats reducing from 23 to 22, with the southern aspect of the building reducing to two storeys in height along Boots Yard.
“It is acknowledged that some impact may be experienced by nearby residents, it is considered that this would not be detrimental to their amenity, and would not warrant a refusal of the application on this basis.
“The pub’s demolition would result in the total loss of its historic interest. The pub has been subject to several modern extensions and alterations which have impacted its significance.
“The agent is agreeable for a condition requiring a written record of the building to be produced to Historic England standards. Similarly, the use of a condition is proposed in relation to an archaeological watching brief.”
Plans also say decorative brickwork will be utilised, including a brick header,
details above windows and doors, brick verge details on the gable ends, and
embossed decorative brick panels on the building’s façade.
