The Ely North Local Centre plans have been approved, sparking mixed reactions from residents and planning officers alike
Ely: So, the Ely North Local Centre plans have been a hot topic lately. The council decided to approve them, even though planning officers suggested they should be turned down. Can you believe it?
The main issue was that the developer, Endurance Estates, wanted to ditch the pub from the plans. They argued that a pub wouldn’t be financially viable anymore, especially after the pandemic.
A spokesperson for Endurance Estates mentioned that there’s just “no market” for a pub now, especially with the Isle of Ely pub nearby. They also made some other changes, like reducing the size of the work hub and cutting down on the number of jobs the centre would create.
Some folks in the community were really hoping for a pub to be part of the plans. The Ely and District CAMRA group even chimed in, saying a pub is essential for the community. They believe it’s important for social and cultural reasons.
Despite the pushback, the planning committee gave the green light on January 15. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, and people are still talking about it.
If you’ve got any thoughts or stories about this, feel free to reach out!
