Pub plan for Booths site

An application has been submitted to Fylde Council by Heyhouses 1 Ltd for outline permission to build a 1,000 square metre pub on land at the Heyhouses Lane-based site in St Annes.

Following the announcement in May that Booths was to build a 20,000sq ft supermarket on the site, it has been revealed a pub could also become part of plans.

St Annes Town Council Mayor, Coun Viv Willder hailed the latest plans as “fantastic”, adding that the pub was very much in keeping with tasteful designs produced so far by developers.

She said: “As a councillor, I, along with my colleagues in the ward, was given a very good presentation regarding the proposals.

“The plans will make the site look fantastic. There will be a children’s play area, a sort of village green feel – it will look like a little oasis.

“As for the gastro-pub, if you ask me if it fits in, then yes. It’s not going to contradict anything. I think it will be very nice.”

Sources close to developer Marcus Worthington confirmed there is no leisure or pub operator in place as yet, but talks are ongoing.

Russell Worthington, development director for Worthington Properties, said: “The designs we have proposed are of exceptional quality and will remain in keeping with, and sympathetic to, the rest of the scheme.

“The overall outline permission does permit some food and drink uses as part of the overall mix and so this is not a substantial departure from the permitted scheme.

“We have had strong interest from the leisure trade and we hope to make an announcement about the chosen operator in the next few weeks.”

It comes after The Gazette told last month how a major store development on the site is set to bring in enough cash to complete a 13-year project to regenerate St Annes town centre.

Traders are eagerly anticipating a planning gain money windfall of at least £350,000, already agreed in principle, once planning details for the development, including a Booths supermarket, on the former Premium Bonds site are finalised.

It is expected to mean a new improved look for The Crescent, Park Road and St Andrew’s Road South.