Nursery plan for former Hapton pub (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Nursery plan for former Hapton pub

12:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A FORMER pub in Hapton could be turned into a children’s day nursery after plans were submitted to Burnley Council.

Previous schemes to turn the Bridge Inn, in Manchester Road, into apartments have fallen through, with the developers saying market research suggests the demand for two bedroom apartments in the area is declining.

A spokesman for the architects Avalon said: “The pub has been closed for some time, and in view of the existence of other pubs in the locality and a general decline in trade will not re-open for business. Accordingly it has been necessary to consider alternative uses for the site.

“Furthermore this is a brownfield site within a settlement boundary and with good opportunities for travel by means other than the private car.

“Nursery use therefore complies in principle with planning policy. The on-going development of new housing in Hapton confirms that this is an appropriate area for nursery provision in terms of sustainability and the fact that the village presently has no preschool provision.

“The first scheme to be approved provided seven apartments within the original building. The second scheme provided nine apartments within the original building, facilitated by alterations to the roof.

“However market research indicates that the demand for two bedroom apartments in the area is declining, and accordingly the viability of the schemes for which there is extant consent has had to be re-evaluated.

“In the present climate it is judged that utilising the property in commercial use would be a more viable proposition.”