Plan to convert Glasshouses pub into holiday cottage rejected

A plan to convert a former Glasshouses pub into a holiday cottage has been refused.

The Birch Tree, at Lupton Bank, closed its doors back in March 2020 due to the covid pandemic.

In plans lodged to Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate Architectural Ltd said the site had been marketed extensively without success.

The fresh proposal would have seen the empty public house converted into a two-bedroom holiday cottage.

However, the borough council rejected the plan on the grounds that the loss of the pub was “not justified”.

In a decision notice, the authority said:

“The proposal would result in the loss of the community facility and this loss is not justified, therefore the development is in conflict with policy HP8 and part F of policy EC7 of the Local Plan.

“It has not been demonstrated that reasonable attempts have been made to actively market the land and premises in line with the requirements of policy HP8.”

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The site has already seen three cottages built under a previous planning permission, with the pub reduced in size.

In planning documents for the fresh proposal, the developer said the building had been put on the market without success.

It said:

“These premises have now remained empty since March 2020 when the previous tenant walked away due to the pandemic. 

“Since that time two agents have marketed the property including a specialist in selling public houses, for a period of seven months. 

“Since that time the applicant has continued his own marketing, all without success.”