Demolition begins at 'landmark' Peterborough pub on Eastfield Road - with flats set to replace it
The bell for last orders at a former Peterborough pub really has rung for the final time – as demolition work has begun.
The Wheatsheaf pub on Eastfield Road has stood vacant since it closed in January 2020 and there has since been no takers for the building when put up for sale by the Greene King brewery.
Since then, the building and its beer garden have fallen into a state of disrepair.
Plans were submitted last year for flats to be built on the site – and now the demolition work has begun.
Neal Hunter of Squirrel Wood Properties had planning permission granted in November 2024 to construct 12 one-bedroom apartments and four one-bedroom bungalows with 11 parking spaces.
The development aims to provide high quality SSH accommodation for residents with a range of disabilities and is designed for vulnerable adults who may need occasional support in their daily lives.
Some residents objected to the proposals for supported housing, arguing that the pub was "distinctive and historic" and a "landmark along Eastfield Road".
However, the planning application was supported by Greene King which confirmed that, despite significant financial investment in the property, it had been unable to secure a tenant for the pub since it closed in 2019.
City council planners determined that the plans were in accordance with the relevant policies set out in the latest Peterborough Local Plan and National Planning Policy Framework.
Once constructed, the 12 room apartment building will be located to the south of the site, whilst the four semi-detached bungalows will be located to the west.
A new access route and open space will be delivered centrally through the site, providing both vehicular and pedestrian access.