Property
Second Wetherspoon pub plan in city refused
JDW previously submitted plans to convert an office building into a pub to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in April last year and it was turned down in November.
Reasons cited for the first refusal in November include a significant increase in the footprint of the building, the loss of landscape tree and shrub planting, the effect that an extended building and beer garden would have on nearby neighbours and the proposed plans would result in a building that “fails to reflect and respond to the deliberately planned spatial pattern of buildings and open space and separation between buildings”.
Objections raised
The first application also received more than 60 objections and three supporting comments whereas the second application received more than 100 objections and six supporting comments.
The objections for the second application included one resident saying “there is no doubt a public house would have a detrimental impact on the character of the surrounding area” along with issues with parking and traffic.
However, one resident who expressed support for the pub to be built said the conversion would bring employment and business to the town.
Over-development
The decision notice states the application was refused as “the proposed extension represents a very significant increase in the footprint and bulk of the building, which when combined with the intended use of both front and rear open areas of the site (beer garden and terrace), is considered to represent a very significant over-development of the plot such that it fails to reflect the form, scale and design of the existing building and the spaces around it.”
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We are disappointed with the outcome of the planning decision, however we respect it. We are keen to open a pub in Parkway and believe it will be an asset to the area.
“Many people in the town are also keen to see a Wetherspoon pub in Welwyn Garden City. “We will decide, in due course, how to take this forward.”
