Sun sets on Woolhampton pub

Application for homes at the Rising Sun approved

THE sun has set on Woolhampton’s Rising Sun for the final time, as the historic former coaching inn is to be turned into housing.

Premier Developments Southern has had its application to convert the pub into a four- bedroom house approved by West Berkshire Council.

The hybrid application also includes outline permission for three detached four-bedroom homes within the grounds.

Built in the 1830s, the former coaching inn is said to have been the scene of the arrest of notorious highwayman Captain Hawkes by the Bow Street Runners. The Rising Sun has been boarded up since it was closed by Arkells in 2013, due to its non-viability.

The derelict pub has also been hit by thieves, who stole copper piping, lead and roof tiles.

The pub is situated in open countryside, and the council said that as it could demonstrate a five-year supply of housing, there was no requirement to build there.

This is unless special circumstances, including re-using redundant buildings, apply.

A report into the pub’s viability by Davis Coffer Lyons said that the barrelage at the pub had dropped from 52,120 to 15,098 in the last four years. It concluded that if the pub were to reopen as a pub-restaurant it would generate a net loss before tax.

In its decision, the council said: “It is now considered that sufficient evidence has been produced which leads to a conclusion that the state of repair of the pub and the future viability of the business are unlikely to result in a successful ongoing business venture as a pub.

“The development would be outside a defined settlement, however, it would make use of previously developed land and be within a small group of dwellings.

“It is now considered that the current scheme has been amended sufficiently and emerging policy considerations have become material consideration that, on balance, the overall scheme would not result in an unacceptable level of harm to the character of the area and existing spatial characteristics.”

This is the developer’s third try at converting the pub. An application for 14 semi-detached houses and another for six detached houses were refused in 2015.

Between the first and latest application, Woolhampton has lost the Falkland Arms to housing; leaving the Angel Inn and The Rowbarge.