Councillor’s boost to save Nantwich pub from demolition

A pub in Nantwich which faces demolition to make way for more housing, could be saved.

The Horse Shoe Inn, in Willaston, was earmarked under new planning proposals to be knocked down.

However, Cheshire East Council is set to re-classify the building as a Heritage Asset, which could save it.

Cllr Brian Silvester, of Willaston and Rope ward, has led the fight to save the building.

And he has appealed to owners Robinsons Brewery, based in Manchester, to retain the building.

He said: “I am hopeful my campaign to save the historic Horse Shoe Inn from demolition could be successful.

“I asked the council to designate it so it could be saved.

“They have now informed me they have decided to classify it as an undesignated Heritage Asset within the current proposals and recommending that the developer amend his proposals to retain the building within the proposed scheme.

“I appeal to the developer to recognise this new classification so the building is retained and converted for residential use.

“Nobody wants to prevent the owner from developing this brown field site but it would be very sad if this bit of Willaston’s history was lost.

“Willaston does not have that many buildings of historical interest so it would be a shame if this one was lost.

“I am grateful to the Willaston History Group and the Parish Council for the work they have done to assist in getting the Horse Shoe Inn classified.”

Cheshire East Council conservation officer Elizabeth Rodgers said: “We do not think this building has sufficient heritage value to be selected as a listed building by English Heritage based on their principles of selection.

“We do however recognise this building has some local heritage value and as a result we have discussed the implication of the current planning application for its demolition.

“As a result it will now be treated as an undesignated Heritage Asset within the current proposals and recommending that the developer amends proposals in order to retain the building within the their proposed scheme.

“This is an approach which has been achieved recently elsewhere in Cheshire East at Kents Green in Haslington and in Tytherington.”