Planning consent refused for alterations already done at former Station Gates pub in Spalding

A Spalding business owner who made alterations to its premises without planning consent has had his retrospective application refused.

South Holland District Council’s planning committee went against their officers’ recommendation and voted 13-1 in favour of refusing Zagros Abdullah’s application for the former Station Gates pub in Spalding, now known as International Food.
Much of the property is Victorian and Coun Harry Drury (Spalding St Mary’s) moved refusal on the grounds of “unacceptable harm to the character of a prominent, traditional building”.

When The Voice informed Mr Abdullah of the decision, he said he “must appeal”, adding: “If it’s harmful [here], then it’s got to be harmful at all shops in Winsover Road.”

An original plan to replace a window with double doors was refused in June, again for “unacceptable harm” to the property’s character.
However, Mr Abdullah was then granted temporary planning permission to remove a wall and window to allow refrigeration units to be taken in. The door and window now present were then installed. Mr Abdullah claims that his discussions with planning and building control officers led him to believe it would be acceptable.

Officers did recommend approval at last Wednesday’s meeting, saying: “In [the works’] now-completed form, it is considered that the applicant has overcome the previous reason for refusal. Whilst it is accepted that the works have altered the appearance of the building, on balance, it is not considered that there is sufficient justification to refuse the proposal.”

However, Coun Peter Coupland (Fleet) said: “The proportions are all wrong. The door’s not the same as the others, the sill level of the window looks like they couldn’t make their mind up whether they wanted it on the floor or in mid-air.
“Look at the rest of the building and the windows at the top, everything’s symmetrical. They’ve just gone daft with this.”

Coun Chris Brewis – the only member happy to approve the scheme – said: “The main elevation is the one that faces the main road and this is the side elevation.
“The civic society don’t object and they are always very ready to object to anything. On balance, I actually think that the officers have got it right.”

Committee members were irritated that it was a restrospective application, Coun Andy Tennant (Long Sutton) feeling the applicant had been “bloody-minded” in going ahead with the work.