Coventry’s Black Horse pub, which has stood for around 200 years, was torn down last weekend.
Demolition of the Black Horse, at 73 Spon End, was permitted by Coventry City Council’s planning committee last May as part of a road-widening scheme.
The demolition is a part of the Local Air Quality Action Plan, in which the council worked with the government to meet the need to reduce NO2 levels below the legal limit of 40ug/m3 in the shortest possible time.
Plans will see an extra lane of traffic added to the B4106 in Spon End which will allow drivers to avoid highly polluted parts of Holyhead Road when going into the city centre.
The Black Horse was given Grade II listed building status in 2011 by English Heritage, but the listing was challenged and reversed, when the owners established that the internal fittings were not original.
The building was also locally listed but that was also removed.
The decision to demolish the building was made following a close vote of 4 – 3 despite vocal opposition from local residents and heritage groups.
Objectors to the demolition included the Victorian Society, the Georgian Group, Historic Buildings and Places (formerly known as the Ancient Monuments Society) and the Council’s own Conservation Team. There was also a petition objecting to the application with 175 signatures.
The building’s heritage value was a key point for councillors opposing the plans. Cllr Roger Bailey said: “It’s a unique historic building in a medieval settlement.” He argued for it to be preserved and moved to a different location, which the council has done before.
Council officers argued that the destruction of the historic building was justified by the greater good of being able to implement the Council’s pollution reduction plan.
Conditions attached to the planning application ensure that there will be a proper archaeological investigation of the site before roadworks commence. There is a good chance of finding evidence of the medieval manor of Sponna.
The Coventry Society is disappointed to lose the Black Horse but supports the council’s plans to reduce NO2 without introducing a Charging Zone. We look forward to seeing the results of the archaeological investigation.