A former Derby pub which had been trading for more than 70 years looks set to be demolished to make way for a garage business.
Plans have been submitted to Derby City Council to knock down The County Hotel, in Sinfin Lane, Sinfin and create an MOT testing station, car repair workshop and a hand car wash in its place.
The pub was first built in 1947. However, it shut in September last year after being run on behalf of its owners by a management company.
The property was then marketed by Fleurets - but with no-one wanting to take on the pub as a going concern, a company called 8B (UK) Limited bought the building with the intention of finding an alternative use for it.
According to planning documents, which have been submitted by Paul Gaughan Building Consultants, on behalf of 8B (UK) Limited, the proposed garage would feature a four-bay workshop, with a first floor mezzanine storage area. It would be served by 42 parking spaces.
If given the go-ahead, the new venture would create six full-time jobs and trade from 7am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday.
The plans state: “The applicant has identified a local need for such facilities and will create additional employment to the area as well as revitalising the site.
“The need for the public house has declined over the past years resulting in the owners no longer directly trading in the building and allowing small scale management companies to trade the premises.
“A planned refurbishment in early 2018 was shelved as it was considered not feasible. The premises closed to the public in late 2018 when it was then marketed by Fleurets.
“No offers for the continued use as a public house were made, due to a number of factors including lack of midweek trade, high running costs and low profit margins and the fact that the building being difficult to convert to a smaller bar.”
