A government planning inspector has rejected a plan to convert the Half Moon Inn at Sharow into a house.
The pub on Sharow Lane opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.
Mark Fitton, owner of the pub, lodged a plan to convert the former pub into a house in March last year.
However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the proposal on the grounds that “insufficient evidence” had been submitted to demonstrate that no community use existed for the property.
Mr Fitton took the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, the body that deals with planning disputes.
However, Susan Hunt, a government planning inspector, turned down the plan on the grounds that there was a “reasonable prospect” of the facility continuing on a viable basis.
Ms Hunt said in a decision notice that while a plan by residents group, Half Moon Pup Group’s, to save the facility was in its infancy, it represented a “reasonable prospect” of making the pub viable.
She said:
“Overall whilst the HMPG’s business plan is in its infancy, from what I have seen and heard regarding their intentions I am satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect of the continuation of the existing public house use.”
Read more:
- Residents call for Sharow pub reinstatement after latest council rejection
- Council upholds listing Sharow pub as asset of community value
Mr Fitton had challenged the council’s decision on the grounds that there was evidence to demonstrate that “no community use exists for this property”.
The decision comes as Harrogate Borough Council upheld a decision to allocate the Half Moon Inn as an asset of community value in February this year.
The council awarded the pub asset of community value status in November 2022 following a campaign by local residents and the parish council to keep the venue open.
Council upholds listing Sharow pub as asset of community valueHarrogate Borough Council has upheld its decision to allocate the Half Moon Inn at Sharow as an asset of community value.
The council awarded the pub asset of community value status in November 2022 following a campaign by local residents and the parish council to keep the venue open.
However, Mark Fitton, the owner of the pub has challenged the council’s decision and described it as “flawed”.
In a letter to Mr Fitton, which was seen by the Stray Ferret, the council confirmed that it expected to complete a review of its decision by January.
Now, a spokesperson for the authority has confirmed it had upheld its original decision.
It means residents and campaigners will have six months to attempt to raise funds to purchase the property.
The pub on Sharow Lane opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.
Since then, a long running saga has unfolded over how best to put the building to use.
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Mr Fitton lodged a plan to convert the former pub into a house in March last year.
However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the proposal on the grounds that “insufficient evidence” had been submitted to demonstrate that no community use existed for the property.
Mr Fitton has now taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, the body that deals with planning disputes.
He has also resubmitted the proposal to the council.
Sharow pub owner appeals housing plan refusalThe owner of the Half Moon Inn at Sharow has appealed a decision to refuse plans to convert the pub into a house.
The pub on Sharow Lane opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.
Mark Fitton, owner of the pub, lodged a plan to convert the former pub into a house in March last year.
However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the proposal on the grounds that “insufficient evidence” had been submitted to demonstrate that no community use existed for the property.
Mr Fitton has now taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, the body that deals with planning disputes.
He has also resubmitted the proposal to the council and challenged a decision to allocate the former pub as an asset of community value.
In documents submitted to the government, he said:
“Contrary to the stated reason for refusal, an abundance of evidence was submitted to demonstrate that no community use exists for this property.”
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A government planning inspector will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Following the council’s decision to allocate the building as an asset of community value, residents have called for the pub to be reinstated.
However, Mr Fitton has challenged the move and called for a review of the decision.
In a letter to Mr Fitton, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the council confirmed that it expected to complete a review by January 29, 2023.
Sharow pub owner resubmits plan to convert building into homeThe owner of the Half Moon Inn at Sharow has resubmitted plans to convert the building into a home.
The pub on Sharow Lane opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.
Since then, a long running saga has unfolded over how best to put the building to use.
Mark Fitton, owner of the pub, has resubmitted plans to convert the former public house into a home.
The move comes as Mr FItton has also challenged a Harrogate Borough Council decision to allocate the Half Moon Inn as an asset of community value.
In documents submitted the council, he said the prospect of reopening the pub was “unviable”.
Mr Fitton said:
“The catalogue of business failures at the Half Moon is so well established that it must surely now be considered conclusive.
“It is well documented that for at least thirty years, everyone who has tried to run the premises as a hospitality venue has found it to be unviable, with eleven separate individuals and couples having, over three decades, tried and failed.”
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The council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Following the council’s decision to allocate the building as an asset of community value, residents have called for the pub to be reinstated.
However, Mr Fitton has challenged the move and called for a review of the decision.
In a letter to Mr Fitton, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the council confirmed that it expected to complete a review by January 29, 2023.
Residents call for Sharow pub reinstatement after latest council rejectionResidents in Sharow have called for a local pub to be reinstated following a council decision to reject plans for it to be turned into a home.
The Half Moon Inn pub on Sharow Lane was opened in 1822 but closed down back in 2016.
Since then, a long running saga has unfolded over how best to put the building to use.
Harrogate Borough Council turned down latest plans by owner Mark Fitton to convert the pub into a house last month.
The Half Moon Inn at Sharow.
Now, residents are calling for the public house to be reinstated.
A spokesperson for the Half Moon Inn Pub Group, which campaigns to reopen the facility, said:
“Local residents are now calling for the Half Moon’s reinstatement, this time as a community hub, where food, drinks, cultural and community events can take place, free wifi can be provided, as well as a small shop that offers daily necessities so local residents don’t need to drive to Ripon.”
Asset of community value challenge
The move comes as the borough council awarded the pub asset of community status in November following a campaign by local residents and the parish council.
However, Mark Fitton, the owner of the pub has challenged the council’s decision and described it as “flawed”.
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Mr Fitton said no attempt has been made to reopen the pub as a community facility, despite the building being available.
In a letter to the borough council, he said:
“The Half Moon Inn has been openly available for a community take-over for five of the past seven years.
“During all of that time, no proposal has been put forward.”
Mr Fitton called for a review of the decision.
In a letter to Mr Fitton, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the council confirmed that it expected to complete a review by January 29, 2023.
Landmark Knaresborough pub soldThe Half Moon pub in Knaresborough has been sold.
The free house on Abbey Road has been bought by Trust Inns, a Chorley-based company that owns nearly 500 pubs in England, Scotland and Wales.
The landmark pub is close to the town’s Low Bridge and has been extensively refurbished in recent years.
A team from the Half Moon takes part in the annual tug-of-war competition over the River Nidd against punters from nearby Mother Shipton’s Inn, although the event has been cancelled for the last two years due to covid.
Trust Inns tweeted news of its new purchase today, and included a photo of the pub’s new landlord, Tom.
https://twitter.com/trustinnsuk/status/1518969438405632002?s=20&t=fejl1LtYkJh3DBFS29WLXA
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Sharow residents to carry out pub viability study
Residents behind a bid to save a Sharow pub are set to carry out their own viability study into taking on the building for community use.
The Half Moon Inn pub on Sharow Lane was opened in 1822 but closed down back in 2016.
Since then, a long running saga has unfolded over how best to put the building to use.
Mark Fitton, owner of the building, has applied to change the use of the former pub into a home.
However, the Half Moon pub group, which is made up of residents who object to the loss of the pub, has launched a campaign to save the building for community use.
The group is set to commission a viability study and valuation from York-based commercial property specialists MJD Hughes.
Dan Robinson, one of the volunteers at the pub group, said:
“Our proposed model is community ownership with free-of-ties lease or purchase.
“We’ll conduct business for the benefit of our community. Our next step is to look at a community share offer, to raise funds and to give locals a chance to own a stake in their pub and a say in its future. We know it’s possible.”
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The campaign comes as Mr Futon lodged an application to Harrogate Borough Council to turn the pub into a four-bedroom house.
In documents submitted to the council, Mr Fitton said “all avenues” had been explored to reopen the pub but had proved unviable.
In a planning statement, the developer said:
“It could hardly be clearer that there is no reasonable prospect of the Half Moon Inn re-opening as a viable hospitality venue.
“All avenues for such an opportunity have been fully explored, over an extended period of time, by agents with strong commercial credentials, unrivalled local coverage and a national licenced-premises specialism.”
However, proposals to convert the pub have been long opposed by the parish council.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the latest plan at a later date.
Sharow Parish Council continues village pub fightResidents in Sharow are continuing their fight to keep a former pub in the village for community use.
The Half Moon Inn pub on Sharow Lane was opened in 1822 but closed down back in 2016.
Since then, a long running saga has unfolded over how best to put the building to use.
A working group on the local parish council was set up to look into the viability of the pub for community use.
Alison Da Costa, who is part of the group, said a recent survey by the parish council found that a majority of people from around Sharow, Copt Hewick, Littlethorpe, Marton-le-Moor and Hutton Conyers wanted the former pub to be put to community use.
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The group said the survey received 234 responses via online and the post. Of that number, 95% said they wanted the pub to open with a cafe and shop.
The move comes after Mark Futon, owner of the building, has reapplied to Harrogate Borough Council to change the use of the Half Moon Inn into a four bedroom house.
In documents submitted to the council, Mr Fitton said “all avenues” had been explored to reopen the pub but had proved unviable.
In a planing statement, the developer said:
“It could hardly be clearer that there is no reasonable prospect of the Half Moon Inn re-opening as a viable hospitality venue.
“All avenues for such an opportunity have been fully explored, over an extended period of time, by agents with strong commercial credentials, unrivalled local coverage and a national licenced-premises specialism.”
However, proposals to convert the pub have been long opposed by the parish council.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the latest plan at a later date.