Flats plan for Kettering pub rejected over 'cramped' living conditions

A bid to turn a closed Kettering pub into flats has been turned down because people who moved in would have faced cramped living conditions.

It looked like time was called on the Talbot Inn in Meadow Road last year when, with no intention of re-opening it, its owners applied to turn it into homes.

Originally hoping to convert it into nine flats, applicants Jos Real Estates scaled down their plans to seven flats by removing a proposed second floor extension.

But, despite deeming the change of use from a pub to flats acceptable in principle, Kettering Council determined that space in five of the seven homes would have been sub-standard.

Three of the proposed flats, which would have needed 50 sq m of living space just to meet standards, provided under 40 sq m for occupiers to live in.

Two single-bedroom flats just met the minimum space required but would likely require a double bed, which Kettering Council said "further emphasises the insufficient space standards" and would "result in unacceptably cramped living conditions".

The council also found the main living areas for two of the flats looked out onto a shared space area and would "have an unacceptable, harmful impact on their residential amenity in terms of loss of privacy".

Rejecting the application, the council report concluded: "The proposed change of use from a public house to residential use in this edge of town centre location is acceptable in principle.

"In addition, reliance on parking of motorised vehicles in existing public car parks and on the highway network close to the site is also acceptable subject to conditions...despite this, the proposal results in cramped living conditions across the majority of residential units which fail to comply with the nationally described space standards."

The pub was bought from the Three Rivers Pub Company in January 2020, with a temporary operation in place before its enforced Covid closure, as it was marketed without success.

When plans were outlined, a planning statement said: "The public house has fallen into disrepair and has been unprofitable for many years, struggling to survive.

"The site is ideal for housing with the new developments on the street and will compliment the neighbourhood, bringing much needed affordable housing and affordable units for working persons."

Planning documents said nobody showed an interest in taking it on as a pub, with the only interest coming from those who suggested it could become an off-licence or offices.

A letter to Kettering Council from pub owner Suruk Miah, dated June 5, said he had been running it at a concessionary rate to keep it occupied and to avoid criminal damage.

He said: "You will note the pub had a difficult past and was making a heavy loss.

"I am a very experienced publican and restauranteur [sic] and my family and friends have been involved in the trade for many years and it is my professional opinion the property is no longer suited as a pub and would be ideal for residential use."