NEW plans have been announced to turn a former pub in Stapleton into the headquarters of a health technology firm.
The Merchants Arms would be converted into “eco-offices” with space for up to 100 people to work, as well as a coffee shop and nine flats, if the plans go ahead.
Owner Tariq Muhammad (pictured above, outside the building) said: “It’s time to do something positive with the building, and I’m excited about breathing new life into this corner of Stapleton.”
He expects to make a planning application in mid-May, after looking at feedback from a consultation for residents held during April.
Since closing as a pub in 2016, the building at the bottom of Bell Hill has been the subject of several previous redevelopment plans, and a community campaign to buy and reopen it.
The latest plans involve making the building the headquarters of Mr Muhammad’s company Invatech Health, which develops software to manage medicines in pharmacies.
Space for up to 100 workers
He told the Voice the office would be able to accommodate 100 people working on site at any time, with 75 staff permanently based there and the remaining space used for flexible working by home-based staff and contractors.
The “eco-office” plan involves removing the current gas heating system and replacing it with air source heat pumps, air conditioning, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems and solar panels, with new landscaped green areas at the front and rear.
The building, on a landmark site visible from the M32 at the corner of Averay Road and Stapleton Road, would be given a new façade.
The plans also include a “community coffee shop” and nine flats.
Invatech Health is currently based in a building on Stapleton Road in Easton, which also houses the Chaiiwala restaurant.
Mr Muhammad said: “As well as becoming our new head offices I want the building to become a cornerstone of the community, with an independently run café where people can come and meet.
“We are rapidly outgrowing our current site and, rather than moving to a business park or somewhere in the city centre, I want to remain in the community and provide jobs for local people.”
He said he wanted to create “a stunning new building which the community can be proud of”.
Ward councillor backs redevelopment scheme
The scheme has been backed by Eastville ward Green councillor Lorraine Francis.
Cllr Francis said: “Over the years this building has become something of an eyesore – not viable as a pub and with no practical scheme for the development of the site.
“So I’m delighted to hear Tariq’s plans to create a location for new jobs, the relocation of a successful business and a feature which the whole community can enjoy.”
Cllr Francis said she had “knocked every door in the area” ahead of an informal community consultation event, to assess residents’ views.
The building has been owned by Red Rock Developments since 2016, when the pub closed. Red Rock was controlled by Mr Muhammad’s father Nasir until 2022, when he retired and his son took over as a director.
In 2017 plans to convert it into 50 flats, a coffee shop and coffee lounge were consulted on, but no formal application was made.
Later that year a plan was submitted to extend the pub’s dining/function room and car parking, to make it a “food led venue”.
The extension plan was withdrawn in early 2018, after receiving 36 objections. An alternative scheme to convert the building into six maisonettes was lodged later that year, but withdrawn in 2019.
During 2018 a complaint was made that the pub was being used as a large house in multiple occupation (HMO) without permission. The city council closed the case without taking enforcement action.
In 2021 Red Rock Developments applied for permission to create a new community hall, retain existing housing and “regularise” the HMO.
Appeal and community buy-out bid
After the city council failed to make a decision on the plans for 15 months, Red Rock appealed to the government. But in 2023 a planning inspector refused the appeal, on the grounds that the developer had not “satisfactorily demonstrated” the pub was no longer commercially viable, and that there were no other pubs within reasonable walking distance.
The appeal was contested by the Colston Estate Community Association, a residents’ group which led a campaign in 2018 to have the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value and formed a community interest company (CIC) to buy it in 2021.
The Voice understands that the CIC offered £490,000, after commissioning a valuation report that said the building was worth a maximum of £560,000.
Red Rock had quoted a price of £975,000 to potential buyers – £500,000 more than it paid in 2016 and a price the planning inspector said was above its “true value”.
One resident involved with the campaign to buy the pub, who asked not to be named, said investigations had shown it was trading well when it was closed, and the CIC had “made a realistic offer” to buy it.
The resident said: “Sadly, the fight has gone out of the community, and the feeling locally now is that the place is such an eyesore that any use is better than the current situation.”