Plans to transform a historic former pub into a convenience store have been given the go-ahead by city development chiefs.
Sunderland City Council’s planning department have granted planning permission for the new use at the Lyons Tavern, at Four Lane Ends, in the Hetton area.
The Georgian public house, which was constructed in 1828, is classed as a “non-designated heritage asset” due to its connection to the area’s coal mining legacy.
This includes links to the social history of the Durham Coalfield, with the building being a likely meeting point for miners who worked at Hetton Colliery.
Back in June 2020, an outline planning application to demolish the pub to make way for housing was formally refused by city council planners.
Concerns at the time included the “confined and cramped layout” of the site, the “local significance” of the pub building and potential biodiversity impacts from demolition.
Source: Sunderland Echo