Fifth application to redevelop Greenham pub is withdrawn
Pub company Punch Taverns refuses to reveal why latest plans to turn the Blue Ball into housing have been withdrawn
AN application to demolish a 19th century Greenham pub and replace it with housing has been withdrawn for the second time in two years, but the owners are refusing to say why.
In August last year, Basingstoke-based Hackwood Homes Limited submitted a planning application to demolish The Blue Ball in Greenham Road and replace it with eight houses on behalf of owners Punch Taverns.
But the proposals, which included two semi-detached two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom houses, have now been scrapped.
A similar application was submitted by Hackwood Homes Limited to West Berkshire Council in 2010 but was withdrawn later that year.
In total, there are been five applications to demolish the pub and replace it with housing in the last five years.
The agent for the most recent application, Truline Limited, said it was informed by Punch Taverns to withdraw the application immediately.
But a Punch Taverns spokeswoman refused to say why the application had been withdrawn.
"We are currently looking at all different options for the site. This is all we can say about the situation at the moment,” she said.
Previous applications to knock down the pub and build housing have all been unsuccessful, with local residents, councillors and the West Berkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale criticising the proposals.
But local opinions seemed to be more amiable this time around as the pub, which has stood since 1830 and is not listed, has been closed since March last year.
Newbury Town Council did not object to the application but raised concerns over a lack of proposed parking at the site, with 12 parking bay and 16 spaces for bicycles proposed.
However, conservation group the Newbury Society argued that the pub should be preserved and housing built in the car park.