Fresh plans for former pub in Boston

Plans have been submitted to Boston Borough Council to convert the first floor of The Axe and Cleaver, in West Street, to form two apartments and add five new-build residential dwellings to its courtyard.

The bid has been made by Activ Property Management and follows a similar application last year.

At that time, it requested planning permission to covert the first-floor to form three apartments and to build a three-storey building in the courtyard to create 11 apartments. That submission was withdrawn following discussion with the borough council.

These new plans have been developed in consultation with the council, documents submitted to the authority state.

They comprise a three-bed unit and a two-bed unit on the first-floor of the pub, and four apartments and a two-bed townhouse in a two-storey L-shaped new build in the rear courtyard.

“Activ Property Management intends this proposal to be a development of the highest quality creating accommodation that offers a positive contribution to the Borough,” agents Framework write in their Design and Access statement.

The Axe and Cleaver – a popular music venue in the town – closed in 2016. Part of its ground floor is now occupied by the Los Burritos Mexican restaurant.

The late-Victorian pub is not a listed building, but does fall within the Boston Town Centre Conservation Area and has listed buildings in its vicinity (next-door, in fact).

However, in its Heritage Impact Statement, Grover Lewis Associates speak highly of the plans.

“The proposed development at the former Axe and Cleaver has been carefully conceived in order to bring the existing historic buildings fronting West Street back into full viable use, thus ensuring that the necessary investment is made into their fabric to secure their long-term future,” it said. “At the same time, the development proposes to ensure that optimum use is made of the remaining site, without harming the character and appearance of Boston Conservation Area, and the settings of nearby designated heritage assets. The resulting scheme will fit harmoniously into its historic context.”
It added: “In summary, the application proposals to provide seven residential units will provide much need local housing, and will breathe new life into a currently unused site at the heart of Boston Conservation Area.”