Curridge pub may convert to housing
Beenlore Ltd, based in Whitchurch-on-Thames, seeks to convert the The Lamb Inn, Long Lane, Curridge, into one two-bedroom and one three- bedroom house.
The plans also include the demolition of older parts of the building and extensions to the existing building.
The applicants say that each property will have two car-parking spaces, a reduction of the eight to 10 car-parking spaces currently at the site.
The Lamb had operated as a public house and Indian takeaway until it closed last September.
A feasibility report submitted with the application says that the surrounding villages are well served by other pubs, with considerable competition in Curridge from The Bunk Inn as well as The Fox and The White Horse, Hermitage.
The report says that this type of property has been particularity susceptible to changes in people’s drinking habits and that the issue of drink-driving means that people are less willing to travel by car to rural pubs.
It adds that The Lamb Inn has struggled for many years to maintain a profitable use as a pub without success.
The report goes on to say that the inn’s last use was as a combined pub and Indian restaurant takeway and even that did not survive, proving that previous owners Enterprise Inns had no confidence in The Lamb’s ability to survive as a pub and therefore they decided to sell it.
A decision is expected from West Berkshire Council by Wednesday, August 27.