Plan to demolish York pub is withdrawn

The Magnet is not finished yet.

An application to demolish the pub has been withdrawn by developers.

Strensall-based Moorside Developments had applied for permission to knock down the Osbaldwick Lane hotel and build nine terraced houses on the site.

But many objected to the destruction of a 1930s pub which is said to have one of the best surviving inter-war pub interiors in York.

On Tuesday, it emerged that the planning application had been withdrawn.

A heritage asset

Nick Love of York Camra gave a cautious welcome to the news.

He told YorkMix:

• We raised our objections in the strongest terms to the demolition of a pub with an historic interior that is listed by Camra as a heritage asset.

  It will be interesting to see if the owners have listened to all the parties that objected, including heritage societies and the local parish council.

  It may not be a Tudor gem but it’s still a heritage asset. Maintaining our city’s culture and heritage is beyond price.

  Our forefathers left historic buildings under our stewardship and future generations won’t forgive our betrayal of this trust.
  

York Camra has a good recent track record on saving city pubs.

It helped spearhead a campaign to save The Jubilee on Balfour Street from being turned into flats, and to stop the Carlton Tavern on Acomb Road from being bulldozed to make way for a care home.

Many objections

Among those who had condemned the Magnet demolition plan were independent councillor Mark Warters who said “This has to stop, it’ll be your pub or club next!”

The York Civic Trust complained it would lead to “the permanent loss of this non-designated heritage asset of local significance”.

And Osbaldwick Parish Council said the Magnet had been subjected to “deliberate, managed decline” by owner Enterprise Inns, in order to make it easier to close and sell on.