Plans for fire-hit Sunderland pub site to become a shop are blocked by councillors

Proposals to redevelop the fire-damaged former Traveller’s Rest pub in Sunderland into a convenience store were dashed by councillors due to road safety concerns and a significant wave of public dissent. Over 200 objections were lodged against the development, which was slated to sit adjacent to Mill Terrace in the Shiney Row ward.

The plans, tabled earlier this year, suggested repurposing the derelict pub to host a variety of retail spaces including shop units, storage areas, a chilled alcohol section, customer toilets, and indoor bicycle parking for staff.

A significant number of residents voiced their disapproval during a consultation, submitting 21 objection letters and three petitions with 210 signatures combined, raising issues such as insufficient parking, traffic hazards, pedestrian safety risks, potential anti-social behaviour from youth gatherings, increased littering, and questioning the need for another store in the area.

The application came under scrutiny by Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee on Monday, November 25, following a direction from Shiney Row Councillor Mel Speding. Despite the planning officers’ report which recommended the refusal of the project citing "conditions prejudicial to pedestrian and highway safety", the principles of the store's development were originally deemed acceptable by the council planners.

The proposal was to "provide additional commercial facilities for the local community". However, concerns were raised that the plans would "attract vehicles to and from the site, and without adequate incurtilage parking or servicing provision, is likely to lead to conditions which are prejudicial to pedestrian and highway safety."

The council’s Future Transport team objected, stating the arrangements for customer parking were "not acceptable", given the area's existing traffic issues "due to the nature of the road".

The applicant, in comments included in the council report, acknowledged there was no designated car parking in the proposals, but highlighted the previous pub use did "not provide a parking or servicing area". A letter supporting the proposals noted the pub had been closed since March 2023 due to a fire and has "remained unviable to redevelop as a pub since then".

It added the site was "acquired in March, 2024, at auction for a low price due to lack of interest" and there was "no prospect of the pub being redeveloped as a pub and reopened". The applicants argued the shop proposal would "adequately bring a derelict pub back in use as a sustainably located convenience store [...] having no adverse impact on residential amenity or parking".

However, at Monday’s Planning and Highways Committee meeting at City Hall, councillors unanimously voted to refuse the shop plans. Council planners, in a presentation.

In a presentation to councillors prior to the vote, it was highlighted that the shop would have customer parking and servicing on the A182, a road known for its "heavy traffic" and proximity to junctions serving a local primary school. The road is also described as "relatively narrow, with bends dips and rises".

Planning officers referenced highways data, revealing a record of 20 accidents along this section of the A182 over the past 23 years, including at nearby junctions, which they said "indicates that the road has a poor safety record".

Councillor Iain Scott voiced his support for the idea of bringing a community building back into use but agreed with council officers' refusal recommendations due to the lack of parking. He drew parallels with a previous application to convert the former New Inn pub in Hetton into a convenience store, where a similar reason was given by the council to reject the application.

This decision was later upheld by a national planning inspector at appeal. "It’s an excellent idea to bring this [building] back into use [...] but it’s just the highway safety that is the pertinent and key issue here," Cllr Scott added.

Echoing these concerns, Councillor Michael Dixon said: "When I was there yesterday somebody parked over the road outside Milburn Terrace on the single yellow lines and there was a tailback and it was dangerous. I fully support the officers in refusing it on highway grounds, it would just be totally impossible."

Councillor Melanie Thornton, chair of the Planning and Highways Committee, added: “It has been empty and subject to a fire and it would be really beneficial to the area, because of the state of it, for it to be brought back into use. To be brought back to what is the question? I think it’s a difficult site for any developer or owner to manage. But as a convenience store I don’t think it would work and it would be dangerous for residents accessing that.”

Following the vote to refuse the planning application, a representative for the applicant at the meeting spoke out and said there would still be the same parking issue around other uses for the building. The speaker also referenced the New Inn pub site in Hetton, which was previously refused planning permission for a shop use over highway safety issues, and said the pub buildings could remain vacant because of issues with new uses.

Planning and Highways Committee chair Cllr Thornton, responding, said: “We have said that we sympathise with you and we feel it’s a shame and we would rather these buildings be brought back to use. However, we have to put the safety of our residents first and when you’re bringing these applications you really need to consider that.”

The Traveller’s Rest fire happened on March 25, 2023, and firefighters spent almost four hours putting it out. No one was injured in the weekend blaze but a joint investigation was launched by police and fire services following the incident. For more information on the shop plan refusal for the former pub site, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 24/01481/FUL

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