Agenda item

Partial demolition and conversion of public house to a single residential dwelling with associated development including garage, access, parking and landscaping.

Recommendation: Grant

The Committee considered an application for the partial demolition and conversion of a public house to a single residential dwelling with associated development including garage, access, parking and landscaping.

The Principal Development Management Officer presented the report which detailed the proposal, description of the site, relevant planning history, relevant planning policies and an assessment of the proposal, providing full and comprehensive details.

It was recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Requests to address the meeting had been received from John Beaty, an objector and Mark Harris, the agent for the applicant and the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification.

Mr Beaty addressed the Committee and stated that planning permission in 2021 had been refused as the applicant had failed to prove that the loss of a community facility was acceptable.  It was not correct to say that no offer had been made by the community for the pub.  The owner had been approached but had refused access to himself or a valuer as they were not willing to sell the premises as a pub.  The pub was the main place people socialised in the village and needed to be kept.  If the application was approved, it would be the loss of a pub which had been there for nearly 100 years.

Mr Harris addressed the Committee and stated that the applicants had purchased the pub in 2016.  It was not trading at that time and the plan was to reopen it and a tenant was in place in 2017.  Unfortunately, the business failed in 2019 and the lease surrendered.  The pub has been marketed ever since, with only one recorded viewing.  The Asset of Community Value (ACV) process had not led to a bid, despite being listed twice, and it was his belief that the process was being used as a delaying tactic.  The refusal of access was inaccurate as the community had been asked to approach the agents and this had not been done.  The proposed development was an improvement as it was bringing an empty premise into use.

The Chair invited the Committee to determine the application.

To assist the Committee, the Senior Planning Lawyer explained the ACV process.  He confirmed that this application did not stop an application to bid from the Friends being made.

Members sought clarification as to what the differences were with this application compared to the last one which was refused in 2021.  In relation to the Joint Core Strategy (JCS), it could be argued that not all of the criteria had been met as there was evidence of a desire to keep the asset.  Some Members felt that the community should be given a chance to pursue the opportunity to make a bid for the pub.

In response, officers clarified that the difference with this application compared to the previous one was the situation with the ACV and viability.  There had been several earlier applications which were for more dwellings.  Policy 7 of JCS had now been met regarding community services and facilities as whilst there was a desire to keep the pub, no bid had made which demonstrated that there was no need.  This was the second time that the pub had been listed as an ACV and due process had been followed by the landowner.

It was proposed by Councillor Kirk Harrison and seconded by Councillor Bert Jackson that planning permission be granted, subject to an additional condition.

On being put to the vote, there were two votes for the motion, two against and one abstention.  The Chair used her casting vote and voted for the motion and therefore the motion for approval was carried.

RESOLVED:-

That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions (and reasons) numbered in the report and an additional condition in relation to sustainability measures for the new building:

•    An electric vehicle charging point;

•    The use of gas fired boilers; and

•   Measures to encourage use to no more than 105 litres/person/day and external water use of no more than 5 litres/person/day.