New plans submitted for former Bull & Monkie pub development in Spalding, receive mixed response on social media

New plans for a town grot spot site receive mixed opinions on social media – after fresh tweaked designs were revealed for the landmark site.

Crispin Holdings is hoping its new designs to create a care home on the former Bull and Monkie pub site in Spalding will be more successful with South Holland District Council’s planning committee - which deferred the application nine months ago due to the scale of the building in such a prominent position.

The new designs show images of how the four-storey building could look from the riverside side view and that a prominent archway has been removed.

New images also show changes to the windows and roof.

In response to the new plans, Coun David Ashby said: “I fully support this application which will finally rid us of this messy site. The investment this will bring to the town is long overdue.”

The site is in an otherwise picturesque part of the town — and has long been a blot on the landscape.

Some of our readers have shared their views on the Lincolnshire Free Press Facebook page.

Roland Hare said: “It should be built further off road and no more than three storeys and built with a historical style along with enough parking for people to be able to park up when visiting family or friends.

“These developments should care a bit more about communities than big profits for off-shore investment.”

Kelvyn Foster described it as an ‘eyesore in the wrong place’ and Sue Cooper said she ‘prefers the old design with the arch.’

The new plans have received some positive comments, Marc Smith wrote: “It looks alright, could be a lot worse – at least it’s being used.”

Documents also state there will now be 86 bedrooms, rather than the 88, which were proposed in the original design. The idea was put on ice after councillors raised concerns over the scale of the development, which was feared to be too imposing for the location — which is near the town’s historic parish church and Ayscoughfee Hall.

Crispen Holdings submitted the plans in April 2023 and want to demolish the derelict Church Gate site – which has been an eyesore in the area for many years, after it closed as a pub in 2009.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below…