Plans to build sheltered parking with electric charging points and workshop at former Greyhound pub site, in Eastgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, rejected

Plans to build sheltered parking with electric charging points and a workshop on the premises of a former Bury St Edmunds pub have been rejected.

West Suffolk Council received the planning application from Mr P Betts, owner of The Greyhound, in Eastgate Street, at the start of February.

The pub was seeking permission to install a cartlodge at its existing car park to provide sheltered parking and electric charging points.

It also wanted to have a small workshop in the garden area behind the car park wall.

In the design and access statement, the applicant said the plans would have ‘very limited impact’ on the street scene and site.

However, the council rejected the plans on Friday, May 23.

A planning officer’s report last month said The Greyhound was being let out via the AirBnB website and there had been no planning permission sought for the change of use to short term holiday let.

Planning permission was required to regularise this use, it said.

Officers noted the ground floor pub was being let via Rightmove, potentially seeking to create another planning unit.

A decision notice, confirming refusal, said: “Without confirmation of the use of the planning unit, we are unable to properly assess the planning merits and impacts of the proposed cartlodge and workshop.

“It remains unclear as to what use of the building they would serve.

“We would also need to assess the loss of community facility before considering further development within the site.”

The Greyhound closed in 2019 and was put up for sale by Greene King in 2022.