New application for former Boldon Lad pub in Jarrow gets the go-ahead

Controversial proposals to convert Jarrow’s Boldon Lad pub into a frozen food store were originally rejected by councillors in August last year after hundreds of public objections were submitted.

Following the decision, developer Punch Partnerships lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.

And in June 2020, the plans were approved on appeal following a ruling from a government-appointed planning inspector.

Heron Foods Ltd have now been named as the operator of the new store, which is expected to create nine jobs.

South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee were asked to look at a new application from the company.

This included changes to the Boldon Lad to adapt it into a convenience retail store – from extending window openings and installing a new ramp and steps to the front, to new cladding and removing the existing smoking shelter.

Alterations to both side elevations of the property would also see the removal of all windows, doors and boards.

Cllr Geraldine Kilgour called the application before the authority’s Planning Committee after raising initial concerns about Heron Foods Ltd requesting longer opening hours.

Other concerns included the application failing to mention a condenser plant or acoustic fencing at the site.

Operations manager for development management on the council, Peter Cunningham, said these errors in the application had been corrected.

This included Heron Foods Ltd making reference to the “wrong opening times” and reference to an acoustic plant on drawings.

He added: “Both the planning statement and the drawings have now been corrected and they make clear that this proposal is for the alterations to the fabric [of the building].

“Everything else that we have mentioned and that Cllr Kilgour has correctly picked up, will be dealt with separately by the planning conditions under the change of use application.”

The planning meeting was held via videolink and broadcast on the council’s YouTube page in line with social distancing guidelines.

Following discussion, councillors approved plans for Heron Foods Ltd to make changes to the pub building.

The Boldon Lad was once a thriving part of the community, with the first masses for St Joseph’s Catholic Church held there before the church was built.

Planning inspector S Hunt, who approved the original change of use application at appeal, said the convenience store proposal would provide “social and economic benefits including employment opportunities and would represent an appropriate use of previously developed land in an accessible location.”

According to a decision notice, a viability study also established that the pub was “commercially unviable” and had not been designated as an “asset of community value.”

An application form submitted by Heron Foods Ltd adds the new store will create two full-time and seven part-time positions.

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