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22
Feb
An application for a certificate of lawfulness of use, submitted by the owner of a former Sharow pub, has been refused.
Mark Fitton, who bought the Half Moon Inn in 2017, submitted the application to North Yorkshire Council in December.
It followed a series of planning applications to convert the property into housing – all of which were rejected.
Local authorities grant certificates of lawfulness of use when they deem an existing building or use to be lawful. The certificates also prevent any enforcement action being taken.
Mr Fitton's application said the property “has been occupied as a single dwelling house for more than four years”, which is a requirement to be granted the certificate.
However, in a public report uploaded by the council last Tuesday, a case officer rejected his claim. The report said:
The planning officer, who said the use of the property was “not lawful” in a separate document, added:
Ms Da Costa also said the group planned to make the site "more than just a pub" with free wifi to use and a village shop.
The Half Moon Inn was granted asset of community value status in November 2022 following the work of campaigners.
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