Plan to convert derelict pub into 10 new flats

THE STONEMASONS ARMS IN DEVONPORT CLOSED IN 2008

- DANIEL CLARK

PLANS to convert a long-closed and derelict pub into flats have been proposed. The Stonemasons Arms on Albert Road was once a thriving beerhouse, but has been closed for nearly 20 years.

The Devonport boozer saw its last pint pulled in 2008 and has been boarded up since. Twice plans to turn the property into 11 flats were submitted and approved, but have never been taken forward.

But now a third bid to bring the derelict property back to life has been unveiled. The scheme would see the pub converted into 10 flats in a four-storey building, the pre-application for the site to Plymouth City Council says.

A statement with the pre-application request says: “The Stonemasons Arms is a property on Albert Road, Devonport. It has been derelict for many years and significantly harms the street view in the area. Our proposal is to partially demolish the existing building and redevelop to create 10 self-contained flats with associated cycle parking and refuse storage. This will be made up of six two-bedroom flats and four onebedroom flats.

“Up until the early 2000’s this property traded as a public house, since then it has been derelict. In 2019 Plymouth City Council issued an improvement notice on this building, which was complied with, since then the building has continued to deteriorate.”