Former William IV pub in Harper Road faces demolition

The developer – Corestructure – proposes to demolish the pub and build a six-storey block of 10 flats with a commercial unit on the ground floor which could accommodate a shop or bar.

According to architects Buchanan Hartley, "the concept is of a significant corner building with a suitable presence for a highly visible townscape setting – overcoming the shortcomings of the existing corner building, that is arguably undersized for the context".

The former William IV pub has more recently housed a succession of short-lived ventures including the Pho Can Tho Vietnamese restaurant, The Buddha Lounge shisha lounge and, most recently, a venue called Dirty Panda.

In the summer of 2016 it also provided the setting for a pop-up 'naked' restaurant called Bunyadi where diners were encouraged to disrobe.

Corestructure cites the decision to redevelop the Royal Standard pub – a short distance from the William IV – as a precedent for the latest scheme.

The loss of the William IV leaves The Rising Sun as the last remaining pub on Harper Road.

• For more details see planning application 18/AP/3820