Applicant to appeal after plans for development behind Crookham pub refused

Mixed use plan and pub revamp deemed 'under-development'

PLANS to build live/work accommodation on a rural site in order to refurbish a Crookham pub have been refused.

Duncan Crook of Ressance Limited had applied to build four live/work properties on land north of the Traveller’s Friend on Crookham Common Road.

The properties would have comprised residential space, with the work component comprising three employment spaces next to the Park Home site, designated as a rural area under West Berkshire Council’s planning policy.

Residents had submitted a 51-strong petition in support of the plans.

And addressing members of the council’s eastern area planning committee at a recent meeting, John Thorogood said that he was a great believer in creating live/work units in rural sites as they were an effective way of working that reduced pollution.

He added that the development would provide support for the community and local shop.

“It would be a lovely little hamlet and would be a positive asset,” he said.

“Surely the positive benefits outweigh the policy issues.”

Conservative councillors Irene Neill and Roger Croft also spoke in support of the plans.

Mr Croft added that the landlady, Julie Goode, would not “take the money and run” as she was standing as a Conservative candidate for Thatcham Town Council.

The council does not have a policy relating to live/work units, however, and planning officer David Pearson advised committee members that the application would cause problems for the district’s housing policy if it were approved.

He said that there was no particular need for the live/work units and that it was difficult to control their business use once permission was granted.

He added that the application had no merits to mark it out as an exception to council policy.

“No case has been made that the viability of the pub is at risk,” he said. In theory they could take the revenue and retire.

“I say as a planner that this is underdevelopment of the site; why not have 20 units and affordable housing?

“We have to be very careful about the precedent we set.”

Mr Crook then argued that local policies referred to diversifying in the rural community and that Mrs Goode intended to update the restaurant – the lifeblood of the pub – to attract more cutomers and secure the pub’s long-term viability.

He added that he would be content for the valuations office to apply a rate to the business use, adding that buyers would knowingly purchase the units if they wanted to start a business from home.

Referring to a recently approved application to build housing in the countryside in order to fund the resurrection of Chaddleworth’s Ibex Inn, Alan Law (Con, Basildon) said that yet another pub was being used to justify housing.

“If we approve this we will be riding cart and horses through our policy,” he said.

The application was refused by seven votes to two.

Mr Crook said that he would be appealing against the decision as the council had approved other live/work units on similar sites.