Plans passed for listed Mermaid pub in Surfleet after accounts prove it is 'no longer financially viable'

A listed village pub which is ‘no longer financially viable’ is set to be converted into a residential site after planners gave the scheme the go ahead.

The application to see the Grade II listed Mermaid Inn, in Surfleet, turned into apartments and further separate dwellings had previously been deferred by planners in a bid to learn more about the financial viability of the site.

However, South Holland District Council’s planning committee learned that the once thriving pub had been running at a loss in its final four years of trading before closing in 2020, with members noting amongst the accounts that the business made just £51 profit in the same year.

Applicants Karen and Geoff Swindells propose to use the existing building to create five apartments, while constructing an additional terrace of three two storey buildings and a further one storey building on the site.

Chairman James Avery said: “The loss of a village pub or restaurant is always lamentable. However, the venue has been closed for nearly three years and this has not had a detrimental effect on the economy.

“I suspect clientele have moved further afield to the Crown Inn, Ship or Riverside.

“I do sympathise with the applicants. The expectation from some residents is that owners can somehow be forced to continue to operate a business and with it take the associated risks and losses which I think is simply not fair.

“Some of the finances are quite horrendous for a business which was once very busy.

“I looked favourably on the application then and I still do now. And I was disappointed that we didn’t approve it in February 2022.”

Coun Peter Coupland adding that the site could fall into further disrepair if the application wasn’t passed.

“The listing will help to preserve the old building instead of someone going in and knocking it about,” he said.

“I think if this application is not approved, it could end up as another untidy site. I would hope that the works would be carried out relatively swiftly.”

Coun Avery added that he had driven past the building very recently and said it was ‘starting to look very sorry and tired’.

Coun Simon Walsh alluded to the building’s relatively new listed status, which has been in place since May, being a result of ‘anger’ and a ‘bid to prevent any development’ of the site.

“They weren’t interested in it being listed before the application,” he said.

Coun Rodney Grocock recommended that a bat survey should be conducted as ‘the church opposite has lots of bats flying around it’.

Officer Polly Harris-Gorf confirmed to the meeting that ‘nothing can happen’ on the site until a bat survey has taken place.