A fire-damaged pub could be demolished and replaced by a nine-storey block of flats – if Sheffield councillors give go-ahead.
A planning application has been put forward for the demolition of the Durham Ox pub on Cricket Inn Road and the erection of the residential building, raising concerns for residents about a nearby cycle route.
The pub which opened in 1862 and closed in 1993 has been damaged by fire and left empty since a brief period as temporary contracting offices in 2006.
The application for 22 residential units to be built on this site would mean the complete demolition of the Victorian building.
Comments on the planning application have raised issues about the cycle path around the site, which is currently said to be unsafe due to its blind corner and has been described a hot spot for anti-social behaviour and litter due to its secluded location.
One commenter wrote: “I am very disappointed to see that the proposal does not take the opportunity – at minimal cost, possibly with a saving – to realign the cycleway.”
The number 627 cycleway is a popular route due to its limited uphill stretches, but the current state of the path around the former pub makes it less accessible and potentially unsafe.
A volunteer for Sustrans, a charity working towards accessible cities for walking, wheeling and cycling, commented: “I am extremely keen to work for safe and accessible cycling routes for all and these plans do not accommodate such.”
The planning application by Gabriel Tang Architects says despite the building’s history, it “no longer retains significant architectural or historic value”. It is not a listed heritage site and therefore can be demolished without challenge.
The application also addresses UK’s housing crisis and the government’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes, claiming, “the proposal aligns with local and national objectives, offering long-term benefits for both residents and the wider city”.
Another commenter suggested that removing the ‘dogleg’ of the cycle route would ‘improve the neighbourhood for the new occupants of the development’ by clearing the current path that is often used for anti-social behaviour, drug abuse and littering.
A decision on the proposal could be made by councillors in May.
