The Lord Raglan: Fresh plans to turn former pub into flats

The Lord Raglan pub on Walmersley Old Road could be converted into five new apartments according to new plans submitted by the building’s current owner, City View Estates.

The developer also plans to build three new houses on the land, which falls within the Mount Pleasant Conservation Area, on the pub’s former car park.

The pub was operated by the Leyden family from 1954 and served the community for more than 60 years before it’s owner, Terry Leyden, sold the pub ahead of his retirement in 2017.

The Lord Raglan, known as 'The Rag'

The building has existed for around 200 years and was once home to a butchers shop which was a popular stopping off point for merchants and travellers taking the route between Manchester and Burnley.

It later became a pub and was given the name "The Lord Raglan" after the Commander of the British Army during the Crimean War. It is now a grade II listed building.

Ahead of its closure, a group of residents began a campaign to save the Lord Raglan, known to locals as "The Rag", and turn it into a community asset, however, they have been unable to raise enough funds to take it over.

City View Estates plans to build three houses on the Lord Raglan's former car park (Image: Google)

Last year, a previous application to build four apartments and six terraced houses were thrown out by the council after it called the plans "unduly obtrusive". 

Paul Robinson, chair of the Raglan Community Hub, which represents a group of residents wanting to revive the pub, said: "A new application is news to me.

"The desire for the community to reopen the pub is still ongoing but there's not been a lot of progress.

“I was in contact with the owner after the last application was unsuccessful and again since.

"The feeling within the community against the planning application for houses (within the conservation area) on the car park is still very strong.”

Plans have been revised after a previous application to develop the site was thrown out last year (Image: Bury Council)

The new application states: “The intention is to bring into use a piece of land that is not currently used to its full potential and restore the vitality of the site.

“The houses are to be two bedroom properties in a traditional layout with living spaces on the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor. rear and an open view towards the West Pennine Moors.

“The proposal addresses and relates to the historic and special character of its setting within the Mount Pleasant Conservation Area.

“The materials and architectural aesthetic respond to the surroundings and deliberately share similar characteristics with exterior stone walling and slate roofing.”

The application is now open for public consultation, and a decision on the application is expected to be made next month.