Stilton Cheese Inn to be turned into dentist surgery and flats
A former village pub is set to be turned into a dentist surgery and new homes, despite concern from some neighbours.
Huntingdonshire District Council has approved plans to turn the ground floor of the The Stilton Cheese Inn, in North Street, Stilton, into a dentist surgery, and to create three one and two-bedroom flats on the upper floors.
A further six new three and four-bedroom houses are due to be built behind the former pub.
The developer, St Hugh Limited, had originally proposed to build seven houses behind the pub, but dropped this to six after concerns from the district council.
Planning documents submitted to the authority said the pub had been advertised for sale since it had closed down, but there had “not been any real interest from any parties” to take it over.
They added that the proposals would see the “sensitive change” of the pub into a dental surgery on the ground floor, with flats above, and that the new homes would help meet the need for new housing in the area.
The plans said: “The design and layout of the proposed residential development complies with the national and local plan requirements, in providing a scheme that is high quality and appropriate in the context of the surroundings.
“The proposed change of use of the existing public house building to dental surgery use would provide a valuable service to local residents and will seek to bringing it back to an active use and avoid permanent vacancy.”
Some concerns about the development had been raised by people in the village.
One person said there are also “traffic issues” in Stilton and highlighted concerns that the proposed development would “only add to the problem”.
Another person said they supported the plan to turn the pub into a dentist surgery with a small number of flats above it, but said they opposed plans for new homes behind the pub.
They said: “I strongly object to building these houses between me and the A1. The houses directly back onto my property.
“North Street, which will be the way in for the vehicles, cannot take any more parking.
“Our village facilities are stretched at the moment and we do not need any more housing, which will increase pollution and noise.”
The development was approved by the district council after planning officers said they believed the benefits would outweigh the adverse impacts.
Officers said the proposed development would be “sustainable” as the homes would be built close to the “limited services and facilities” available in the village, and also near a bus stop.
They said: “The location of the proposed development is therefore sustainable in relation to providing opportunities for users of the proposed development to access everyday services and facilities by sustainable modes of travel including walking, cycling and public transport.”
Officers added that the proposed houses and flats would “provide a high standard of residential amenity for future occupants”.
They also said they considered that the development would be “unlikely to have any adverse effect on the public highway”.
The report said a minimum of two car parking spaces would be provided for each house and flat, plus two visitor parking spaces.
Nine patient car parking spaces are proposed for the dentist surgery, including one disabled space. Four overspill car parking spaces are proposed, as well as eight staff car parking spaces.
Officers said this level of car parking is “considered to be sufficient to meet the needs of the development”.
Six cycle parking spaces for the people living in the flats and six cycle parking spaces for the dentist are also proposed.
Officers said the new homes would result in “less than substantial harm to the setting of the listed building and conservation area” and recognised that the new homes would be a “threat” to the future retention of protected trees.
However, they highlighted that the district council did not currently have a five year housing land supply.
They also said the dental surgery would create a new community facility and “reuse and refurbish a vacant listed building”.
Officers concluded that the benefits offered by the proposed development outweighed the adverse impacts.