A historic pub in Loughborough could be turned into car park storage after being implicated in plans to redevelop a shopping centre into student flats.
An application to change the lawful use of The Green Man in Loughborough has been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) by Leicester Commercial Limited.
Historians say the pub, which lies in the basement of Carillon Court, dates back to the late 18th century, and could be even older.
The site evolved from the original build to a 1900s Victorian structure, and finally to a 1970s basement venue during the area’s shopping centre redevelopment.
After closing its doors in 1993, the stairs were removed. It has been used for firefighter training since.
According to planning documents submitted to CBC, the applicant argued that because of the stair removal, the site’s use had become ancillary to the above facilities.
The council maintained that legally it was still classed as a public house.
Jim Butler, a local historian and heritage practitioner, said it would be a “shame” for one of Loughborough’s oldest buildings to be used for car park storage.
He said: “It was a well loved establishment. A lot of student-built accommodation these days have things like cafes and gyms built into them. You sort of think could they not just tweak the plans and incorporate it somehow?
“Cities and towns constantly evolve. But when you have got something that has been this kind of thread through the town’s history, for us to lose it entirely and it not be referenced or acknowledged in some way seems a shame.
“Anything that could tell those hidden histories can really create a sense of pride and interest for people in where they live.”
The news comes as the applicant’s plans to develop Carillon Court into student accommodation recently took a step forward.
Tylers Department Store, which still trades in the mall, announced on Friday, June 3 that they would vacate the premises next January.
Under the deal, they will have the chance to return once the site is demolished and developed.
By Caitlin James, Local Democracy Reporter