Plans to demolish the former Merry Monk public house in Kirkstall and replace it with nine houses have been submitted by developers.
Wortley-based RDF Building wants to build two semi-detached houses, and two blocks of three and four terrace houses with parking for 18 cars on the site off Kirkstall Hill.
The pub closed last August and a group of Kirkstall residents won the right to get the pub listed as an asset of community value in September.
A planning statement accompanying the application says:
“The proposed development will have a positive impact on local people. The site previous use as a public house, will permanently cease and with it removes the antisocial behaviour issues that were being experienced by the surrounding residents. The site is untidy at present and is unsightly in the local area.
“The development will ensure that the site will be put to a good and sustainable use and will be maintained for the foreseeable future, with quality housing.”
As reported last November, the council previously owned the land housing the pub on Kirkstall Hill but agreed to start negotiations with leaseholder Blue Pig Holdings Ltd to sell its freehold interest.
Campaigner Stuart Long, of the Friends of Merry Monk group, said at the time:
“This is clearly a massive disappointment to a community that has used the building for many a decade.
“Looking locally at traffic, Burley Road – outside the Merry Monk – comes to a grinding traffic jam and is congested every night on Kirkstall Hill for many an hour. [Housing] will add even more traffic to it.”
The planning application can be read in full – and commented upon – here.
It does – looks like they don’t have the money or organisation to buy.