Leeds City Council has decided to demolish the troubled George IV pub on Grove Road in Hunslet and allocate the land for new Council Housing.
The site has been a problem for local residents for many years. The pub was substantially damaged by a fire on the night of 18 October 2017 and has been derelict ever since. The pub’s licence had been suspended in June 2017 after West Yorkshire Police had found weapons and drugs at the pub. It was also believed stolen goods were regularly being sold there.
Since the fire the leaseholder has told the Council he would be refurbishing and reopening the pub, but has taken no action. In the meantime the site has become an eyesore and attracted fly-tipping.
The land is owned by Leeds City Council and the pub was let on a leasehold. The Council has approved £270,000 to buy out the leasehold interest and demolish the building. The project will be funded via a combination of either retained Right to Buy receipts or Homes England Grant, blended with LCC Housing Revenue Account borrowing.
Commenting on the plans Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said:
“The current state of the George IV pub has been a long-term frustration for Cllr Nash, Wray and I, but most importantly, the community. We are very happy our efforts to resolve this have resulted in the Council purchasing the site lease.
“The site has been a terrible health and safety concern and a blight on the landscape. Its current state would have detracted from our considerable regeneration efforts in the area, which started with the refurbished Hunslet Community Hub and Library, and will continue with the planned improvements on Hunslet Forecourt and at Church Street Playground. We will now work with officers to agree a suitable housing scheme on the site.”
well done leeds city council another local pub gone. doing really well south leeds golf courses going pubs going can yoy say what ya want to take away next please
Can u blame them pal? The leaseholder wouldn’t refurbish as it would of probably ended up being a magnet for anti social behaviour and there’s always the risk that the licence could be revoked. Not a viable investment for anybody. Pubs are going everywhere up and down the country, it’s a national trend for various reasons.
Demolishing an eyesore and utilising the land for new housing is a good way to do things.
The ‘national trend’ that you refer to is the destruction of a culture and endemic way of life it’s a combination of greedy breweries charging outrageous business rates to manage and run pubs, the pricing of beer and spirits, the smoking ban, the rise in peddling and using recreational drugs on licensed premises.
For many of my generation and older the pubs and clubs in this area provided interaction amongst the communities and benefitted many of the people
Family generations have begun with a couple who met in a pub or club back in the day.
We are not all content with locking the door in the evenings and drinking cheap beer from the supermarket whilst watching mindless crap on the T.V.
There are thousands of empty properties not just in this city but nationwide, they have been promising new housing for thirty years!