A disused public house in the centre of a Nottinghamshire town is set to be transformed into retail space and a house in multiple occupation following approval from Mansfield District Council.
Cohen’s Corner, located at 37-39 Church Street, ceased operations at least two years prior and was listed for sale at auction in August the previous year.
Planning applications were filed by developers in January.
The scheme involves dividing the ground level, which previously accommodated the bar, into two smaller commercial spaces, while the upper floors will be converted into a six-bedroom HMO.
The plans also include the demolition of a section at the back of the structure to establish a courtyard area, along with the construction of a two-storey rear extension.
HMOs, which accommodate unrelated individuals and couples in separate bedrooms, frequently attract criticism from local residents and authorities because of their potential to generate additional vehicle traffic and increased activity in the surrounding area.
Concerns about a rise in their numbers across Mansfield prompted local MP Steve Yemm to raise the matter in parliament during November, noting that inhabitants living on streets with such properties felt increasingly powerless regarding changes to their neighbourhoods.
The MP further contended that these accommodations often result in overflowing waste containers, vehicles obstructing pathways, and temporary occupants lacking long-term commitment to the community.
Recently, a cross-party collective of Mansfield District councillors has convened to examine whether the proliferation of HMOs has reached an excessive level and whether the authority should employ legal tools to limit their expansion.
The proposed Church Street development would comprise six individual double bedrooms, each with private facilities, though occupants would utilise a shared kitchen and lounge space.
Significant interior renovations are planned, though developers have stressed that the building’s front elevation will retain its current height and external appearance, with only signage modifications.
The specific types of businesses destined for the commercial units remain unspecified, though these areas are anticipated to function as either retail or office spaces.
Within the past fortnight, the council has sanctioned two additional HMO applications in the vicinity.
A mid-terrace property at 13 Princes Street, positioned close to Mansfield Town’s OneCall Stadium, has received consent to expand from a six-bedroom to a ten-bedroom configuration.
The property’s ownership changed hands in June the previous year, when it still functioned as a conventional three-bedroom residence.
A dwelling at 25 Gladstone Street, situated slightly beyond the town centre boundary, will similarly be converted into a five-bedroom HMO.
The existing three-bedroom property will feature two ground-floor bedrooms alongside a communal cooking and dining space, two first-floor bedrooms, and a spacious loft bedroom, all equipped with en-suite amenities.