Derelict pub to be replaced by flats

A derelict pub "past the point of no return" will be demolished and turned into a block of flats.

The Queens Arms, in Barrow, closed almost 20 years ago.

An application was submitted to the Liberal Democrat-led Westmorland and Furness Council's planning committee in December to turn the site on Rawlinson Street into a three-storey building with 21 apartments.

A decision was postponed to see whether any affordable housing could be added to the plan, but councillors have now granted the scheme approval.

Officers previously recommended the proposal be refused - a position they continued to hold - citing "inappropriate" design for the area.

Labour councillor Frank Cassidy, representing Walney Island, described it as a "great pity" the property had been allowed to get into "deplorable" condition, saying there should be measures in place to stop similar things from happening.

"It being past the point of no return was apparent on our site visit back in December," he said.

Some councillors voiced concern over the lack of affordable housing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Councillor Les Hall, a Conservative for Hawcoat and Newbarns, asked whether any of the "beautifully engineered" brickwork could be incorporated in the new building.

The developer's agent Emma Jones said that was not viable, but the bricks could be salvaged and used for another purpose.

The committee heard council officers had carried out enforcement action to get plant growth removed and make sure the building was secure, but the structure was "too far gone".

By five to one, with one abstention, councillors voted to approve the scheme against officers' recommendations, citing the current condition having a negative effect on the area and the "significant" benefit of 21 new homes.

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