Decision over future of historic Theale pub deferred

Red Lion may be preserved as a pub after confusion over viability as a business

A HISTORIC Theale pub has been granted a temporary reprieve from housing developers after West Berkshire councillors decided to defer a decision on its future.

Developer Red Line Land Ltd is hoping to change the use of the The Red Lion pub, which is thought to date back to the late 1800s, from a public house to residential use.

The company is also looking to demolish the former skittle alley and outbuildings to convert the site into flats.

However, members of the eastern area planning committee last week decided to hold off on making a decision on whether to grant permission owing to confusion over the viability of the pub.

Officers had recommended that planning permission be granted, stating that the pub no longer presented “a viable business opportunity”.

Council officers also stipulated that the developer should pay at least £50,000 in an affordable housing contribution, less than council policy states would normally be acceptable.

However, in their report housing officers said that from the evidence provided in a Viability Assessment it was considered that the lower-than-usual payment was justified.

And, after it emerged that the pub had been placed on the market for £750,000 to satisfy asset of community value legislation, councillors raised questions over which figures had been used in the Viability Assessment.

Emma Webster (Con, Birch Copse) wanted to know if the up-to-date value of the pub had been used to determine the business’ viability asking: “Is the £750,000 value the same value that’s been used in the Viability Assessment?”

However, senior planning officer Dave Pearson said he couldn’t answer that question, stating that when he had gone to look at the ViabilityAssessment it wasn’t there – he did, however, say that “a conclusion was reached that £50,000 was the best we can get”.

Miss Webster replied: “If someone came to me and offered me the value for my house from 2014 I wouldn’t be very happy about it.”

Alan Law (Con, Basildon) agreed, saying: “We have to be satisfied that the housing officers have done their job.”

As a result, councillors voted in favour of deferring the decision until the Viability Assessment could be scrutinised.

The decision was welcomed by members of the Save the Red Lion Committee who have now submitted plans to resurrect the pub under the asset of community value legislation.

David Kieran from the committee said that they were putting forward a plan to West Berkshire Council as the NWN went to press, which they hope will trigger a further six-month reprieve to give the community a chance to table an offer for the pub.

He added: “Theale might have several other places where you can get a drink but this offers something a bit different.

“Plus all the history of the place – it’s been there since the 19th century.

“All these things point to this being a great opportunity to rescue the pub.”