A CONTROVERSIAL plan to demolish a derelict Unsworth pub and build a retail unit in its place has been withdrawn.

In August, Cobe Consulting applied to Bury Council for permission to knock down the Dragon pub in Parr Lane and build a ground floor retail unit with eight apartments above it, and served by 19 parking spaces.

A ruling was expected before November 5, but the firm has withdrawn the application so that designers can look at adding more parking places to the scheme.

The council received 110 letters of objection from people claiming the development would cause parking and traffic problems.

Andrew Broadhurst, of Cobe Consulting, said: “We have been given advice by the council about the application and we now intend to see if we can look at the parking element of the plan.

“We intend to resubmit the plan once that has been looked at.”

Addressing the objections, he said: “If anything, the parking situation will improve. Many people used the Dragon car park, but that is now closed.

“We want to reopen it and, since we cannot police who parks there, people will be able to use it.

“The aim of the development is to attract people on foot, providing people in the local area with an amenity. There would not be a drastic amount of traffic created by this development.

“Other people have concerns the trade of neighbouring businesses will be affected. Many studies show that when there are anchor businesses, like the one we have lined up, the neighbouring companies benefit.”

David Lomas, of Lomas News in Parr Lane, is among those who objected to the proposal. He said: “I expected this to be withdrawn because I could not really see the plan working. But a revised plan could be put in.

“Many objectors could say a lot about the merits of any application for the site, but given that there has been a withdrawal, I will wait to see if another application is made before I comment further.”