A SOUTHAMPTON pub is to be turned into flats.
The Grove Tavern was closed after its landlady of 24 years decided to no longer run the pub.
Now a proposal to knock it down and built flats on the site have been given the go ahead by city planners.
The scheme by developers PLC Architects on behalf of Radian housing association includes six four-bedroom semi-detached dwellings with parking, cycle and refuse storage.
The pub was built in the 1930s and in its application, PLC Architects said the building “departs slightly from the general character” of the road.
It said: “The building is of traditional design and includes brick elevations with concrete tiled roof. The building includes a flat roof, single storey extension to the west.
“The frontage area includes tarmac parking forecourt.
“There is a large beer garden with mature trees located towards the rear boundary.
“The area is unkempt with boundaries screened by a mixture of timber fencing and overgrown planting.”
While the plans were being considered a number of residents criticised the plans for the pub in Swift Road, Woolston,
Michael Federanko, who lives in Swift Road, said: “We bought our house two years ago and one of the big plus points was The Grove being on our doorstep.
"Would we had felt the same if it was a block of unnecessary flats?”
Katrina Rafferty, who lives in Swift Gardens, said: “By demolishing the current establishment you are taking away part of the community.
“Woolston is already a very built up area with terrible access in and out.”
Alice Hart, project manager at site owner Radian said: “We will be redeveloping the site with six new four bedroom family homes for shared ownership to meet an identified local need.
“We hope to be able to start on site autumn 2017 and anticipate first occupation mid summer 2018.”
In March, the Echo told how Mandy Emmerson, former landlady at The Grove Tavern, had opted to leave her role after the brewery said that pub needed £60,000 worth of improvements.
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