Former Oswestry hotel and bar to be turned into apartments
A once popular town hotel, which has stood empty for more than two years, is to be converted into apartments.
Plans to transform The Smithfield Hotel in Oswestry, which formerly housed the Bullring Bar, into seven residential apartments were approved by Shropshire Council this week.
In its design and access statement, agent James Ellis, on behalf of J Ross Developments, said the three-storey building is located on the corner of Salop Road and English Walls, which was also formerly The Bear Hotel.
It ceased to operate about two years ago due to "lack of trade".
At the time of closure it was the Bullring Bar.
The proposed floor plans indicate how all floors will be converted to provide three apartments on the ground floor and two apartments on the first and second floors – totalling seven.
The Georgian-style building, currently with 16 bedrooms, is located in the conservation area and adjoins the Black Gate, an historic, half-timbered inn which is a listed building, however the former Smithfield Hotel is not listed itself.
Planning permission for the conversion was granted under a number of conditions.
These include Shropshire Council asking an enclosed area for the storage of refuse bins to be provided and approved by them, in a bid to preserve the area's amenities.
Also wanted is an area in which to store bicycles – which if approved by the council, would encourage the use of sustainable forms of transport.
