Arnold’s Friar Tuck Pub Demolition Nears for Retirement Flats Plan

A pub in Arnold may soon be gone, replaced by retirement flats. The pub in question is the Friar Tuck, located on Gedling Road. The proposed plan includes 51 flats specifically designed for older residents, along with landscaping and parking facilities.

Greene King currently owns the pub, which was originally opened by the Home Brewery Company back in 1958. The development plans feature 36 one-bedroom flats and 15 two-bedroom flats. A garden area with trees and hedges is also part of the plan.

McCarthy Stone, a company specializing in retirement living developments, submitted the application in August 2024. With over 500 sites across the UK, their portfolio includes Century Court and Parry Court. Gedling Council will soon make a decision on the application.

However, the project faces opposition from residents, who have raised six objections. Their concerns include safety issues, the size of the building, parking availability, and the potential for flooding. Residents also express a desire to preserve the pub, viewing it as an important part of the community, while questioning whether local residents would even use the new facility.

The apartments will be housed in an L-shaped, three-story building. Designed to blend in with the surrounding area’s architectural style, it will include a lounge area and well-maintained gardens.

The new parking plan includes only 20 spaces. It adds two spaces for disabilities and seven spaces for mobility scooters, a reduction from the current 44 spaces.

Gedling Council appears to favor the development in principle but is seeking some modifications. They have requested certain agreements with McCarthy Stone before granting final approval. The council is pushing for ten “affordable” apartments, with five units offered at reduced rents, and five available under shared ownership to help individuals purchase homes.

The council is also under pressure to meet government-set housing targets, which apply to all councils. Further, McCarthy Stone may contribute funding towards a nearby bus stop and provide £27,000 to support the local NHS services at Stenhouse Medical and Daybrook, to address potential strain from new patients.