The historic pub was put on the market and bought by a mystery buyer

Photo shows the former Newcastle Arms pub off the A610 Nuthall Road, between Aspley and Old Basford(Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)

Asda has pledged that traffic flow on a busy Nottingham road will ‘not be impeded’ if its plans to open a shop in an abandoned pub go ahead.

The wait continues for Nottingham City Council’s approval of the supermarket giant’s plans for the former Newcastle Arms, off Nuthall Road, on the edge of Aspley and Old Basford.

The Newcastle Arms was built in 1930 for Home Brewery and was designed by architects Evans, Clark & Wollatt.

The pub had previously been at the centre of plans for a significant renovation under the ownership of Star Pubs, but the property was then bought by a mystery buyer in May 2024 after having been put on the market for £475,000.

Asda’s plans to convert the pub into a convenience store then came to light and the company originally said it expected Nottingham City Council to have made a decision by February.

Yet a decision has still not been made, with the city council’s planning portal showing that the consultation phase of the planning application has now been completed, with only a recommendation from planning officers needed before it is considered by councillors.

Planning agents previously said that few changes would be made to the outside of the pub and that its car park would provide 19 spaces for customers.

The proposed store would be ‘small-scale’ in nature with a ‘limited range of goods on offer’, designed to serve the “day-to-day shopping needs of those living nearby.”

In an updated document submitted to the city council, Asda has pledged that deliveries to the planned store will cause minimal disruption to the highways network.

The supermarket chain has explained that delivery vehicles will turn onto Basford Road, just off Nuthall Road and to the right of the pub, and will use the kerbside next to the building to offload goods.

An Asda statement reads: “There is ample room on Basford Road to the side of the delivery vehicle to accommodate the two-way traffic flow, which would not be impeded.

“If, however, there is no suitable kerbside space available upon arrival of the delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle will continue on its journey to the next delivery destination and either return at a later time or the following day.

“To minimise the likelihood of this occurring, Asda will time their deliveries to occur when parking is least utilised, typically early morning.”

Asda was contacted for comment on when it now expected its plans to be approved, but did not respond in time for publication.