Council considers plan to turn vacant pub into shop

The Black Horse ceased trading in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic

Plans have been submitted to convert a vacant pub into a community shop after a proposal for it to house a family of Ukrainian refugees was refused.

Black Horse pub in Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire, stopped trading more than four years ago.

West Northamptonshire Council refused a proposal for the building to be used to house Ukrainian refugees in October 2022, and the plan was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate after an appeal in February.

The site's owner has sought permission for a change of use to a village shop and Post Office.

The pub stopped trading in March 2020 after it closed its doors due to the Covid pandemic, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The new plans - which were submitted by the applicant Friendship Zone, a charity based in Northamptonshire - have instead sought permission for a change of use to a village shop and Post Office, so that the building can continue to serve the local community's needs.

Planning documents said the proposed conversion "will increase the offering of community facilities for the village".

It has been proposed that the former left-hand bar area could become the community shop and the right-hand side of the building could make up the Post Office and non-food shop area.

Designs show there is currently space for four cars to park around the back of the building.

West Northamptonshire Council has set 26 July as a target decision date.