New plans lodged for former Diss Poundland premises

There are still hopes for a new pub to be built at a site previously eyed for a Wetherspoon branch.

The future of the car park next to Diss Mere has been uncertain for many years as proposals for the pub chain to establish itself in the town faltered.

It has been called back into question after plans were lodged for the adjacent Poundland store, which is sitting empty, to be reconfigured into flats and smaller retail units.

While currently focussing on this new development, the owner of the site has suggested a pub or restaurant could still be built on the car park in years to come.

The new plans lodged with South Norfolk Council would see the former Poundland unit in Mere Street revamped into six flats while maintaining a smaller shop and storage area on ground level.

The unit has sat empty since Poundland vacated in summer last year and has become “sad and run down” in the months since.

The proposals would retain an “industrial look” to the site but hope to make the area more attractive and viable to businesses and customers.

The plans have once again raised the question of the adjacent King’s Head Yard car park – previously destined for a new JD Wetherspoon pub.

The branch was estimated to cost nearly £3m to build with a mezzanine level and balcony with views across the Mere, as well as a beer garden.

But despite being granted planning permission by South Norfolk Council, the development never went ahead.

Diss Town Council heard that Joe Darrell, who owns the land, still has “longer-term ambitions” for a small restaurant or pub to be built on the site, but is currently focussing on bringing the vacant Poundland unit back into use.

The new proposals will be considered by South Norfolk Council’s planning department in due course.

As a reader, we know the value you place on trusted local journalism. At the Diss Express we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from our communities, and we can only do this with the support of our readers.

By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission, you also unlock a whole host of benefits, including unlimited access to ad-lite websites and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers. You can find out more about subscriptions here.

Use the promo code KevinHurst to get an annual subscription for less than £25 - we really appreciate your support. Thank you.