Pub flats plan gets go-ahead

Applicants Yorkfield Estates will also demolish its own offices directly behind the Don, Swinton, and build six homes.

Planning documents which went before Rotherham Borough Council last week said: “The permanent loss of the use of this building as a pub is regrettable.

“However, taking into account that there are two other pubs within 150 metres of the site still operating, and there are a further seven pubs towards the centre of Swinton, the Don

Hotel is not considered to represent an important local facility.

“There are no objections to the principle of demolition of the existing Yorkfield Estate offices and subsequent re-development of this part of the site for residential purposes.”

Planning officers said the contemporary design of the properties, being built for the Guinness Northern Counties Housing Association, would lift the area’s visual appearance.

The document added: “While the scale of proposals is higher than the surrounding properties on Walker Street, it is not considered that this would have a materially adverse impact on these existing residential properties.”