The Broken Bridge, Pontefract: Beer garden extension approved at town centre Wetherspoon pub
Plans to extend a beer garden at a pub in Pontefract town centre have been approved.
Wakefield Council has given the green light to the scheme at The Broken Bridge, on Horse Fair.
Owners JD Wetherspoon applied to enlarge the outdoor seating area and relocate a boundary wall at the rear of the premises.
The site is on a medieval street within the Pontefract Castle conservation area but is not a listed building.
A heritage statement said the development would not impact on nearby historic buildings.
It said: "The proposals will remove visual clutter caused by externally stored bins and improve access around the property.
"The expanded beer garden will provide a well-contained and functional space that supports the building’s continued commercial use.
"The materials have been selected to ensure cohesion with surrounding brickwork, boundary walls, and railings, common to rear yards and alleyways in the conservation area."
The statement added: "The application responds to the changing needs of public venues, particularly the post-pandemic shift towards outdoor spaces.
"The modest scope of changes ensures that the special interest of the area is preserved and enhanced."
A planning officer's report said: "Overall, it is considered that the proposed development would not give rise to significant concerns in respect of adversely harming the residential amenity of the area by way of noise, or more generally introducing a use which could lead to significant pollution and environmental impacts."
Permission was granted subject to a condition that the external drinking area was only in use between 9.30am and 7pm.
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