White Horse pub in Harlow will not be demolished for homes - council

Neighbours told Harlow Council the White Horse pub building has become a haven for drug dealers and squatters

Plans to demolish a pub that "attracts drug dealers and is open to squatters" have been rejected by a council.

Walsh Properties Investments Ltd applied to bulldoze the defunct White Horse pub in Harlow, Essex.

Blueprints revealed the developer would have built four detached houses in its wake on Potter Street.

The pub lost its premises licence in November 2020 after being raided by police amid a drugs investigation the month prior.

A planning statement from architect Charles Khoo said the pub, which dates back to 1848, had been "deeply unpopular" with residents.

Noise, anti-social behaviour and police raids were all cited by Mr Khoo as complaints made by neighbours.

He said: "Its current vacant state is negative as it now attracts drug dealers and is open to squatting.

"Demolition of a noisy and anti-social pub which is a nuisance within a mature, residential estate is a welcome change."

'Harmful'

But Harlow Council's planning officers refused the application, raising a series of concerns.

A report stated the loss of a public house would conflict with the Harlow Local Development Plan.

It also said satisfactory evidence had not been given to prove the pub was surplus to requirements in the community and its appearance "harmful" to the street scene.

One neighbour said they felt they had no choice but to support the homes plan when it was submitted.

"It pains me to say this as I used to love going to the White Horse, but I just don't see what else can be done to save it," they said.

"It has become a magnet for drug dealing, illicit dumping and potential squatting."

Another wrote on Harlow Council's planning portal that they were saddened by the pub's demise, adding it was once a "vibrant community asset".

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