Pub burned down by arsonists receives planning permission for new residential buildings

A pub in Nottingham that was allegedly burned down in an arson attack is to be demolished almost immediately.

The Bakersfield on Oakdale Road went up in flames on Wednesday, September 11. Police believe the fire was deliberately set.

A planning application had already been submitted to build 13 detached houses and a block of supported accommodation, and Nottingham City Council approved the proposal at a planning meeting today (Wednesday 18 September).

The developer Hockley Developments Ltd announced that the abandoned pub will now be demolished as quickly as possible for safety reasons.

According to Nottinghamshire Fire Service, the fire was probably deliberately set on the first floor and spread to the roof, which was largely destroyed.

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The Bakersfield's structural integrity is now damaged, the gables are exposed and there is a risk that the building will collapse in bad weather.

To prevent further vandalism, it is now boarded up and secured.

The pub has been closed since 2021 and is said to have been in poor condition even before the fire.

The new complex offers detached and semi-detached houses for families as well as eight one-bedroom apartments.

The members of the planning committee supported the proposal unanimously.

Councillor Kirsty L. Jones (Lab) said: “The homes are not classed as affordable, but each accommodation is good and supported housing is much needed in this city.

“It’s a huge improvement over what it was before.”

Councillor Kevin Clarke (Ind) said: “There have been some concerns from neighbours about anti-social behaviour on the pitch to the north.

“We need a clear boundary between them – if we leave it like this, people will move from the park to the housing estate and have problems with development in the future.”

“But overall I'm pretty impressed with it.”

Detective Sergeant Chris Mavers of Nottinghamshire Police said after the fire: “Our investigation is still at an early stage but initial indications suggest the fire was deliberately set.”

“Arson is an extremely serious crime that can have tragic consequences. That is why we will work with all our might to find the person responsible.

“Abandoned places like the building involved in this incident can be extremely dangerous, so it is important that people stay away.

“We urge anyone with information or relevant footage of the incident to contact officers.”

The pub was run by Admiral Taverns Ltd, who had originally hoped to find a new landlord.

However, planning documents state: “After examining the losses this particular pub was making and the very poor turnover, it became clear to them that there was no hope of finding anyone to take a new lease here without making huge investments in the pub which would not yield a reasonable return on investment.”

Anyone with information about the fire should call police on 101 quoting incident 633 of 11 September 2024 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.