Convenience store and flats plan in Tickhill thrown out

A plan to turn a former Doncaster pub into a convenience store and flats has been thrown out by councillors.

Planning officers at Doncaster Council wanted elected members to approve a bid to transform the former Millstone Hotel on Westgate, Tickhill, into a store and five flats.

But councillors rejected the scheme and raised multiple concerns around road safety from the size of the car park and issues around the viabilities of HGV deliveries to the store.

Other issues raised included the lack of landscaping and green space on the site.

Cllr Andy Pickering, who represents Mexborough said the plan was ‘not a good application’ while Sprotbrough member Coun Jonathan Wood said they were ‘working with rubbish’.

The application itself received over 200 objections from residents – many are in favour of the flats but fear the convenience store aspect of the plan will harm the viability of local businesses in Tickhill town centre.

The council received 45 letters of support for the application.

Co-op is understood to be the tenant interested in taking up the space. The applicant, Lloyd Nicholson, is likely to appeal or resubmit an amended application.

The properties itself include three one-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom flats and 21 parking spaces. A partial demolition of an outbuilding would also take place alongside the erection of a new external stairway and extension.

Objector Chris Taylor, who spoke at the online meeting, said: “During my lifetime working in neighbourhood convenience retailing, I estimate that up to 40 vehicles an hour would impact the site. A document is now in the public domain presumably submitted by the applicant that virtually endorses my guess.

“These are dozens of vehicle movements and more than one every minute attempting to leave a car park on the corner of a very busy road adjacent to a bus stop and then add food delivery vehicles into the mix.

“This application should not have been recommended by DMBC planners – the impact of the predicted number of vehicles on this busy corner of Tickhill should have constituted sufficient reason to decline the request.”

John Bergin from Tickhill Town Council, who was against the application, also spoke at the meeting.

“It’s ironic that the Co-op chief executive has written to the Chancellor to seek more protection for the High Street yet this application that threatened Tickhill continues to be pursued.

“We continue the strong objections from Tickhill Town Council and maintain other objections remain valid. The report presented contains mistakes and misleading information.”

Graham Rayner, the applicant’s planning agent said the building would be brought back into good use which has been hit by break-ins and a fire.

Mr Rayner also said there would be impact on the town centre and would ‘not compete with other outlets but complement it.

He added that many people travel out of Tickhill for supermarkets in Maltby and Balby.

But councillors found various issues with the application and unanimously rejected the proposal.