The following is a reply from Phillip Rose, Group IFA CEO who have submitted the planning application for The Grants Arms:
Please support this Planning Application 63308
In response to Mr John Irelands appeal, I agree – The ‘Grants’ is to Ramsbottom what Blackpool Tower is to the Golden Mile, or the Opera House to Sydney Harbour, but you don’t need to tell a Ramsbottom lad that!
However, what is upsetting is that this iconic building which has stood proud as the mother of Ramsbottom, overlooking the Market Place for over 200 years is no longer the matriarch of the town but a sad limping old lady, a neglected and dilapidated old building which looks abandoned and unloved.
ROMANCE
Being an iconic building the ‘Grants’ will never be an office block. The planning application ensures it will be sympathetically renovated, with its clock and internal tower returned to its former glory to respectfully attend the march of time over the town. But, time cannot stand still and move with the times we must. The historic Grade 2 listed lady will be lovingly restored to give The Grant Arms a new lease of life, to stand proudly over the Market Place as a visual reminder of the areas cultural heritage once again.
REALITY – The building requires extensive renovations. The old lady is dying!
The Grade 2 listed façade is a book being judged by its front cover, the inside and outside of the former hotel is strewn with rubbish, occupied by squatters and has been vandalised.
Prior to submission of the current change of use application, Hydes Brewery, who have successfully breathed new life into the Pack Horse in Affetside, completed due diligence on The Grant Arms to investigate whether it could be refurbished and continued as a public house and hotel, but this was deemed not viable. (see Investment Appraisal here).
As an Asset of Community Value there has been a six week consultation period where anyone could make an offer to purchase the property as a going concern, no-one provided an offer to the present owner. With the fact that this building has stood ‘empty’ for the last 14 months, the warmth, light and life it used to bring to the Market Place has long been extinguished.
Any change of use or reopening of The Grant Arms as a public house/hotel would always need to offer parking. I have started negotiations with Bury Council to allocate the parking spaces for public use. In reality a public house and hotel will require parking spaces 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The simple fact is the ‘Grants’ owns the parking spaces but I understand the importance of these to the business community within Ramsbottom, hence why I have been working with the Council to find a suitable solution.
With the current explosion of new wine bars, tapas bars and restaurants, which will all hopefully continue to be thriving local businesses, Ramsbottom does not need a large brewery chain to gallop into town and open another pub to take away the entrepreneurial spirit of the new bars. Ramsbottom is a success story because of the local businesses, we simply want to bring 40 people into the town to spend their money on a daily basis.
I contacted Mr John Ireland and Ramsbottom Heritage Society prior to submission of the planning application and offered to arrange a meeting so they could view the proposed plans and any concerns could be taken into account and discussed. Sadly they both declined. On the other hand, my request was granted by the Friends of Ramsbottom Civic Hall (FORCH) and I have been welcomed to present my plans at their next meeting.
A change of use where the building will be occupied by an existing company with the space for growth and the opportunity then to create more jobs in the town can only be good news. With the additional number of employees visiting the town daily, who can afford to turn away business?
As Group CEO, I first started in financial advice on Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, subsequently setting up Rosebridge as an independent financial business in Bolton in 2006. The name of the business is a combination of my surname and Bridge Street. As a local business person and member of the local community (played football as first team captain for 6 years at Ramsbottom United) I see the proposed relocation of our Head Office into The Grant Arms as bringing my prestigious financial services business back home to its roots.
We cannot go on hoping that a fairy godmother will come along and ‘save’ the Grants Arms, I would love it to be a boutique hotel as there is little quality hotel in the town. As a local Mr. Rose is sympathetic to the needs of the town.
Thanks Tony
Its closed because of infrequent use. As long as the front and side of the building isnt changed, I think it would make a lovely Office Suite……. unless someone has the cash to breath life into it again as a hotel, I would back this plan. Lets face it, calling into the local pub for a pint on a Friday or Saturday evening is now a thing of the past with all the new foodies and bars springing up in Ramsbottom at least the building would be restored to its former glory and looked after instead of sitting there like a ruin and turning into an eyesore.
The reality is a respected F&B operator with many years of experience in operating both highly successful, but also some failed (invaluable experience) bars/restaurants has deemed the building not commercially viable for restoration/transformation to its former glory as a Public House. With this in mind you have to look at the other options available. A commercial office actually has lots of positives – job creation which also promotes new daytime customers/traffic to local businesses, almost guaranteed maintenance of the building (how many clients would use an IFA who works from a run-down office?) and finally it wouldn’t damage the current F&B scene in Rammy, which as a regular visitor, is the best it’s ever been. Whilst Rammy could probably accommodate 1 or 2 more independents, given the size & associated cost of renovating/running the building it would have to be a ‘chain’ pub/eatery brand and IMO this would only be to the detriment of Rammy’s charm. Mr Rose is clearly sympathetic towards the town and the buildings history, this is in itself is a massive advantage versus someone not familiar with the area and only motivated by minimum spend and maximum return on their investment. We’ve got to move with the times or see landmarks like the Grants simply rot from the inside out!!!
A well written piece by someone who cares. I really hope this happens as it will show grit, hard work and northern spirit pays off.
Seems a very reasoned and sensible response. The longer it is left the more dilapidated it will become. Rammy has a variety eating places, admittedly not much accommodation and that is where the Grants failed. This seems to preserve the integrity of the outside of the building and will enhance the town.
The Grants reminds me of the Royal hotel in Waterfoot Rossendale, a fabulous building that was once the focal point of the town and the community. Sadly it has fallen into disuse, it has remained closed and decaying for over a decade.
I understand that Ramsbottom is a different matter to Waterfoot, but the time of large pubs has passed.
No one likes pubs more than I, but we have to pragmatic about this case, surely it is better to save the building and put it to a sympathetic use that will benefit the town. Than witnesses a slow process of dereliction.
Knowing that Phil Rose is the person behind the plans fills me with so much confidence, Phil is a decent and fair man and knows Ramsbottom well- I feel confident that the keys are with you Phil, good luck.
I was very surprised to learn from Philip Rose’s statement that he had offered to give a presentation to the Heritage Society and they had declined. I am on the committee of the Society and I knew nothing about it. I would have been very interested to hear what he had to say if I had been given the opportunity.
I was also very surprised when at last Wednesday’s members meeting (we had a talk on Folk Magic – fascinating)
it was announced that the Society had sent in an objection to the Grants Arms project. I knew nothing about that, either. It had not been discussed or voted on at a committee meeting, and we had not been informed of the basis on which it had been made. When I complained about this I was sent a copy of the objection and if i’d had the opportunity would have said that I didn’t think most of the grounds were valid. I didn’t, so I’m saying it now. There may be valid grounds for objection which I might have found if I’d been able to listen to what Mr Rose had to say, but we shall never know. But I want to make it clear that none of this was done with my knowledge or agreement, and I am embarrassed to be associated with it.
Kate Haworth Programme Organiser
Dear Kate,
Thank you for your comment, I sent the email (13/9) prior to the application being submitted, I requested a meeting with members of RHS.
I received a response from Kate, John, Janet and Andrew (in one email) I followed up the emails on two occasions to confirm if a meeting could be organised. I wanted to discuss with RHS my plans to hopefully resolve any issues that could be agreed prior to me submitting my planning application.
I have met up with Mr Jones from FORCH on two occasions along with the committee members of FORCH to discuss my plans in more detail and hopefully alleviate any concerns they may have.
I would be more than happy to meet up with members of RHS to discuss any issues they may have. You still have time to object or support the application prior to the planning committee.
My email address: [email protected] or call my office 01204300010 to arrange a meeting.