115-year-old Wolverhampton pub lined up to be fish and chip shop
A derelict pub will soon have a new lease of life after proposals were approved to turn it into a restaurant.
The Island House in Stafford Road has been empty since 2007, with plans to turn it into a KFC thrown out three times since then.
Wolverhampton City Council has just approved plans to turn the site into a fish and chip restaurant with takeaway facilities, with three one-bedroom flats on the first floor.
In his decision, planning officer Ragbir Sahota says the scheme has been approved as it brings back into use a vacant building on a main route in and out of the city centre.
While the documents do not say how many jobs will be created, Mr Sahota's report says the proposal 'seeks to renovate the existing building, create jobs, and results in inward investment'.
The 115-year-old site had formerly housed the Croft pub, with the Campaign for Real Ale backing residents' claims at the time that a KFC would create noise, litter, fumes and parking congestion as well as attracting anti-social behaviour.
Camra pub preservation officer Jim Laws said after the council rejected the KFC plans that he would like to see the building reopened as a pub or a restaurant with a facility to get a drink at the same time.
Once the renovations start work will be restricted to between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am and 1pm on Saturdays. Work cannot take place on Sundays or bank holidays.
