Apartment plan for former bingo hall

Plans have been put forward to build two shops and 23 one and two bedroom apartments on the former Regal Social Bingo Hall site in Ollerton.

The building on Forest Road was closed as a bingo hall in August and a planning application for 26 one and two bedroom apartments was submitted.

The application was turned down at the end of August.

Now, the same applicants, Regal Leisure Ltd, have submitted a revised outline planning application to include two shops as well as residential accommodation.

The original plans were refused by Newark and Sherwood District Council, mainly because it was felt the loss of the retail frontage to housing would be detrimental to the vitality of Ollerton.

Ollerton and Boughton Town Council also objected to the original plans because of fears of the impact on the town centre and the loss of public carparking spaces.

The applicants lodged an appeal against the decision with a planning inspector, which was also rejected over concerns about the effect a purely residential property would have on the town centre.

The new application features two three-storey blocks. One, overlooking Forest Road, would have two shops on the ground floor while the other is to the rear of the site, facing Rufford Avenue.

Carparking space for residents would be provided between the two blocks.

Vehicle access would be kept on a central position on Rufford Avenue.

Mr Andy Rogers, a planner with Andrew Martin Associates of Nottingham, the agents working on behalf of Regal Leisure Ltd, said a decision on the plans was due by July 23.

He said: “Because of the inspector’s decision and his concern in the commercial break along Forest Road, we decided to include the two retail units.”

Mr Rogers said that whoever redeveloped the site would have to finalise the details of the new buildings nearer the time because Regal Leisure Ltd were only seeking outline permission.

A decision on the new application will be made by Newark and Sherwood District Council.