Flans plan rejection goes to appeal

Proposals from Lexgreen Services for the old Cafe Sport in Swinton were rejected by Rotherham Council in March 2022.

The authority said the conversion of the Station Street venue did not meet the criteria for permitted developments, so full planning permission would be required.

Rules allow for leisure developments to be turned into housing without the need for a change of use application.

But RMBC does not accept “leisure club” as the current use of the site, in legal terms, saying the premises was mainly last used as a drinking establishment.

Lexgreen Services have now taken the matter to the Planning Inspectorate, which will hear the case and make a final decision at a date to be fixed.