Plans to demolish pub for housing refused

The Horse and Jockey pub in Whitchurch has been closed for 18 years

Plans to demolish a derelict pub to make way for a housing development have been turned down.

Six houses were proposed for the site of the old Horse and Jockey pub in Whitchurch, Shropshire, which had been derelict since it closed 18 years ago.

The building, on the corner of Claypit Street and Church Street, regarded as a non-designated heritage asset by Shropshire Council, has seen cases of vandalism and theft since then.

Whitchurch Homes' planning application claimed it was no longer possible to use the site as a pub but council planning officers said their proposal would cause "substantial harm" to the conservation area.

A report from the applicant said it would be "very difficult" for the pub to re-establish itself after being closed for so long.

"The prospect of the pub reopening and being financially viable is unrealistic," they said.

Planning officer Mark Perry said the development would "result in the total loss of significance to a non-designated heritage asset".

In a report issued with the decision to reject the application on Wednesday, he said: "While some public benefits associated with the proposed development have been identified, these are not considered to outweigh the substantial harm to the heritage assets."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.