FRESH plans have been submitted to close a historic Berkeley pub and transform it into new homes.
A planning application has been put forward to Stroud District Council by applicant Sam Hall to turn the Boars Head Inn into four new homes.
It comes as in April 2023, SDC rejected previous plans to build between six homes on the site due to worries about overdevelopment.
At the time, in its refusal the district council described the old scheme as "cramped" and "alien within the street scene".
A new application has now been put forward to partially demolish the pub and convert it into two homes, as well as two additional homes which would be built in the car park.
Planning documents state the pub itself - which dates back to 1844 - would be converted to retain “some of the heritage” of the original site.
Other proposed works include adding a new shared road and installing ten parking spaces,
According to the application, the pub - which is currently open - employs one full-time member of staff and two part-time employees.
However, according to planning documents, the pub has experienced financial difficulties in recent years.
A planning document reads: “The applicant has owned the pub for over ten years and has witnessed a decline over that period.
“The site is no longer financially viable due to a number of factors including the pandemic and recent cost of living crisis.
“The applicant has tried a number of ways to reverse this decline but without success.
“The pub has been listed for sale for the past seven months with very little interest.”
It continues: “The redevelopment of the site would not see Berkeley without a pub.
“It is considered the loss of the current pub is not significant and one might argue that the viability of other pubs in the area would be improved as they are likely to get more customers as a result of the closure of The Boars Head.
“It is important to note that whatever the outcome of this planning application, the pub will close as it is simply not economically viable.
“Whilst the applicant appreciates that current policy seeks to protect existing community facilities, the applicant has exhausted all alternative possibilities and the venue currently runs at a loss.”
You can view the application quoting S.24/0579/FUL or see here - tinyurl.com/pdre4pbr
Artist impression photos of the proposed development
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