A LAST minute anonymous bid to save a pub from being demolished and turned into a care home looks set to fail after planners recommended the plans be approved.

It was hoped the Carlton Tavern, in Acomb, could be saved from bulldozers when a backer, supported by Spark:York director Joe Gardham, came forward with plans to transform the property into an “exciting hub of community activity”, which included a microbrewery, restaurant, cafe and deli.

The plans also involved using the space as a meeting point for businesses and training people in a range of new skills to boost their employability.

However, a planning report released ahead of Thursday’s meeting has recommended City of York Council’s Planning Committee give Crown Care’s plans to build a new 79 bedroom home the green light.

The planning report says there is a “pressing need” for care homes in the city and this development outweighs the facilities of the pub.

It states: “The loss of the community facilities provided by the Carlton Tavern are considered to be considerably outweighed by the benefits to the community of York, as a whole, which would derive from the provision of a form of accommodation for which there is a pressing need in the City and for which there are few suitable alternative sites in the authority’s area.

“In conclusion, therefore, the overall judgement is balanced.

“Nevertheless it is considered that the significant benefits which the care home would provide would be sufficient to outweigh loss of a non-designated heritage asset, even one of the undoubted local importance of the Carlton Tavern, and furthermore would outweigh the loss of a listed Asset of Community Value."