Plans for vacant pub approved

Plans to erect an annex building at a vacant pub in Little Warford, to create an additional 10 bedrooms, have been approved.

Ribble Valley Inns, who purchased The Stag's Head on Mill Lane in 2013, applied to build the additional rooms in order to make the pub a viable business in the long term - stating that if planning permission for the construction of a detached building was not granted then the scheme would not be financially viable and could result in the building being left vacant.

Despite the scheme being recommended for refusal on the grounds that it represents an inappropriate form of development within the Green Belt, it was unanimously approved by Northern Planning Committee today (Wednesday, 5th May), with conditions on the final design.

Councillor Craig Browne said “It was unanimously approved, but with details of the design to be delegated back to officers to discuss and agree with the applicant. The members wished to support the Stags Head become economically viable once more, but were unhappy with the design of the proposed 10 bedroom annex which was felt to be inappropriate and unsympathetic to the existing building."

A report prepared by the Planning Officer for today's Northern Planning Committee meeting stated "The development represents an inappropriate form of development within the Green Belt for which very special circumstances must be demonstrated that clearly outweigh the harm.

"The development would provide some economic benefits in the form of increased revenue and a slight increased number of people employed over and above the approved scheme. However the social benefits provided by the applicant have not been sufficiently demonstrated.

"The environmental harm in the form of the harm to the Green Belt and the character of the area would clearly outweigh any economic benefits the scheme would provide and so for the application is recommended for a refusal."

Ribble Valley Inns is part of the Northcote Group of Companies, co-founded by Head Chef Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft, which also includes the Michelin Star restaurant Northcote, near Blackburn.

The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 17/0837M.

Tags:

Planning Applications, The Stags Head