PLANS to demolish the historic Station Hotel public house in Ellesmere Port and replace it with 25 apartments have been given the green light.

The iconic pub on Station Road, which was built in the 1870s, has fallen into disrepair after closing its doors for the final time back in 2017.

Developers Rose Business Services lodged a planning application earlier this year to knock down the locally listed building and replace it with affordable apartments and parking provision.

The proposal, which will see two residential blocks built on the site providing 21 one-bed and four two-bed apartments, was given the go-ahead by Cheshire West and Chester Council today (July 27).

Although it is locally listed, the Station Hotel is not a designated Grade II listed building and therefore has no statutory protection.

In her report recommending approval, the council's case officer Lyndsay Shinner said the redundant pub building has been subjected to "extensive vandalism", is "rife" with pest infestation, and structurally requires "major works".

She adds that, although regrettable, the structural survey demonstrates that it is "financially prohibitive" for the facility to ever be run as a pub again or for other community uses.

Chester and District Standard:

Her report concludes: "The proposed loss of the locally listed building, a non-designated heritage asset, should be resisted and require convincing justification.

"However the historic interest and contribution to local townscape it once possessed has been undermined by changes to its setting as well as its overall decay and deterioration, which the structural survey has demonstrated would be unviable to try to restore for any use.

"Full historic recording prior to demolition would be required. In this instance, although it is justified, its loss is still regrettable and this weighs against the proposal.

"The 100% affordable housing scheme would contribute toward meeting an identified urgent local housing need for such accommodation and a registered provider has already been secured to deliver the scheme.

"The scheme would bring about social and economic benefits. This all weighs in favour of the proposal.

Chester and District Standard:

"It is considered the development would increase the perception of public safety in and around the site, especially for users of the adjacent Ellesmere Port railway station and is welcomed by Cheshire Police.

"The scheme is also considered to enhance the setting of the adjacent grade II listed station office building by establishing a defined road frontage and through its considered design.

"Although finely balanced, it is considered the matters that weigh in favour of the proposal outweigh the considerations against and as such it is recommended for permission."

The Station Hotel was bought at auction by a property developer in early 2019 but was advertised for auction once again in October of that year.

Chester and District Standard:

The current owners purchased the property after this date.

The planning application states: "There has been ample opportunity for a new owner to reopen the Station Hotel, however this has not been the case and instead the building now fails to be habitable let alone convertible.

"It is recognised Station Hotel is a very important building locally and retains an historic importance for those people and the town.

"However, it has come to a point where the building can no longer be saved, and the only viable option is to redevelop the land."