The decaying Rising Sun pub could be transformed into six apartments and a coffee bar and lounge, if new plans for the building are given the green light.
The Grade II listed former pub on Kirkstall Road has sat empty for a number of years.
It was severely damaged by fire in 2013, has suffered from vandalism and drug use and its downstairs was left under several feet of water when the River Aire flooded on Boxing Day 2015.
Developer Mick Ackroyd wants to use the upper floors as apartments, restore and refurbish the ground floor as a coffee bar and lounge and discard some of the outside ‘green space’ in order to provide safe access and parking.
A planning statement submitted with the propoosals promises ‘sympathetic’ external changes to the historic building and adds:
“Much of the original interior has been lost apart from sections of the original curved and glazed screens which give a taste of its historic significance.
“Unfortunately, house clearance and the creation of a green space, has left the building totally isolated, leading to its demise.”
It concludes:
“Refurbishing the ground floor of this building and opening it up to the public use again is a challenge, but can work if there is agreement to release part of the green space to serve the building.
“Without the car parking and servicing areas a commercial re-use of the ground floor of this building will never happen.”
The latest plans can be viewed in full – and commented upon – here.
The pub, which dates back to around 1895, has long since closed, reopening as a second-hand furniture shop in 2011.
Plans to de-list the late Victorian pub’s historic internal features and transform the building into six flats were refused by Leeds City Council planners last year. Planners said at the time the proposals to remove internal fittings would cause ‘substantial harm to the special character and significance of the listed interiors’.
The Grade II listed building features on Leeds City Council’s ‘at risk’ list and has also come to the attention of civic watchdog Leeds Civic Trust, who would like to see it brought back into use.
Good idea but in view of stated isolation will need good parking for non residents to attract customers ! People will not walk there!