Planning Inspectorate dismisses bid to turn The Angel Inn, in Debenham, into home

A bid to turn an historic village pub into a home has been dismissed by the planning inspectorate.

The Planning Inspectorate has revealed its decision on Mrs Stacey Paine's bid to turn The Angel Inn, in High Street, Debenham, into a home.

The application was discussed by Mid Suffolk's planning committee in September but had to be referred back to the inspectorate after the council failed to meet the deadline.

The council, nevertheless, refused the application after strong local backlash and agreed to defend the decision during the appeal stage.

Last month's council decision followed a separate bid from March 2021 which was eventually refused by the authority and dismissed by the inspectorate.

Key to the appeal this time around was whether there was enough justification to the change as well as its impacts on the features of the historic Grade II-listed building.

The inspector said: "It appears to me that the public house is well placed in relation to other shops and businesses and it is an attractive and vibrant community.

"Although the premises is looking rather neglected, it is an attractive building with considerable appeal as a historic pub."

The inspector, like councillors, concluded the applicant did not demonstrate the building could no longer be used either as a pub or for a separate community use.

The report stated the marketing exercise carried out to develop interest may not have reflected a realistic sales price for the building or even advertised it as an ongoing business opportunity.

Despite other businesses being available in the area, the report stated, there was little to suggest The Angel could not complement these or offer something different.

The inspector said: "While this is not the last public house in the community, the evidence suggests it was valued in the past and could still be valued by a growing community if it were to reopen.

"Its loss would erode the range of facilities on offer to the community and thereby reduce the appeal of the village to the community and visitors."

On heritage impacts, the inspector's report said although the building could be used as a home without significant changes to its historic features, the change would still have a significant impact.

The inspector said: "There is no doubt that the loss of the building’s long-standing historic use as a public house would be harmful to the building’s special interest and significance

"It would remove the building’s historic purpose and it would no longer function in the way intended, undermining its historic interest as a focal point in the life of the village."

The appeal was dismissed alongside a separate bid for the council to cover the costs.