Pub firm wins planning battle against council
A bar firm has won its battle to build two new homes at the back of a village pub after a council failed to call time on the plans.
Punch Partnerships (PML) put forward proposals for the land at the Coach and Horses in Abbots Bromley in January 2019.
But East Staffordshire Borough Council did not make a decision on the application in the prescribed period, so the Burton-based bar firm took its case to the Planning Inspectorate.
Inspector Bhupinder Thandi has allowed the appeal and granted planning permission for the two detached homes earmarked for land behind the High Street pub.
A planning statement submitted to the borough council said the Grade II Listed pub was set to remain open for business – and car parking spaces would also be retained.
The appeal decision report said: “The council failed to determine the application within the prescribed period. However, following submission of the appeal, the council have prepared an appeal statement. This advises that had the council determined the application, planning permission would have been refused.
“The main issue in this appeal is whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Abbots Bromley Conservation Area (CA) and the effect of the proposal upon the setting of nearby listed buildings, namely the Coach and Horses.
“I acknowledge the concerns of the council that Plot 1 would be taller and wider than the nearby outbuilding and that the ridge height of Plot 2 would be similar to the height of the chimney stack of the public house. However, this juxtaposition and contrast in height and width between buildings is a noticeable feature of the CA.
“I find that the proposed development would sit comfortably between the historic public house and the modern properties along Radmore Lane, successfully integrating into the street scene. Whilst the dwellings would be elevated from road level the visual impact from High Street would be limited due to the position of the existing outbuilding and the siting of the dwellings.
“Overall the appearance, scale and form of the proposed development, in my judgement, would be a pleasant reflection of attractive historic buildings in the CA and not disproportionate imitations. It would create a compact but interesting streetscape along this section of Radmore Lane through its appearance and form positively contributing to the character and appearance of the CA and the setting of the listed public house.”
