Novo consults on Little Bollington site
After buying the former Stamford Arms pub and restaurant in Little Bollington, the developer is inviting public views on the site’s future later this month.
Place North West reported in September that Novo had bought the site for an undisclosed fee, and the Altrincham-based company is now inviting members of the public to share their views on how the site should be developed.
Working with planner Avison Young and architect Project3, the developer will hold a community design group workshop on Tuesday 29 October at the nearby Swan with Two Nicks pub, running between 7pm and 9pm.
Comprising around 15,000 sq ft, including the former pub and its outbuildings, over one-and-a-half acres, the pub sits behind Dunham Massey and near the popular Swan With Two Nicks pub in Little Bollington. It also includes a car park, which was formerly a bowling green; the site is within Cheshire East’s Green Belt.
Work is already taken place to improve the site visually, while the developer has said it will secure the site to ensure the buildings do not deteriorate further.
Following a public consultation, a planning application is set to be submitted before the end of this year. Options being considered include residential use.
The site has been vacant for some time; the pub changed its name from the Stamford Arms to Home in 2007 and operated under this moniker until 2012 when it shut down.
Owner Enterprise Inns had been looking to sell the site for some time, first listing it for sale at an asking price of £1.4m, before cutting the price down to £1m.
However, the property failed to sell and was offered at auction via Pugh Auctions. The lot again failed to attract any bidders; with a deal needing to be done quickly, Novo concluded the purchase following the auction for an undisclosed fee.
Ben Fearns, managing director of Novo said: “This site had all the hall marks that we look for, an excellent location, quality heritage asset, but constrained and overlooked by the rest of the market. We have the buying power, risk appetite and delivery team to make a real difference in sites like this.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the level of support received for us taking on the Stamford Arms, notably the National Trust taking a wonderfully pragmatic and progressive view. It’s now key that we deliver on these promises, but first we need to hear the wider community views”.
