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Time called on hopes of North Arms in Wroxton reopening
31/01/2022
The building’s owners want to convert it to a house
The North Arms at Wroxton will not be reopening if the building’s new owners can persuade planners that the property can be converted to a house. An application has been lodged at Cherwell District Council to change the former public house into a residential dwelling.
The news will come as a blow for villagers who have been pushing for the North Arms to reopen. It last welcomed customers in 2013.
The change of use application has been made by Twickenham based Tolbea Associates. It says the current owners purchased the North Arms with a view to a change of use. They feel the lack of interest in operating the property as a pub has been demonstrated by placing it on the market with national pub agents, with no potential buyers coming forward. The freehold is being offered at £295,000.
Plans demonstrate how the building could be converted into a four-bedroom house with a first-floor study and ground floor kitchen, dining, utility and living room areas.
The applicant notes the building does need some immediate work: “Since the building has been empty for a long period there is a need to repair the structure of the building with the thatched roof requiring urgent replacement. This is relevant to the planning application since without permission to convert to a residential dwelling it is difficult to envisage what possible alternative future there is for the building and how it will be repaired then maintained for generations to come.”
The planning application highlights that the White Horse pub is only around 100 metres away and whilst that is currently closed they believe it will be re-opening. The Wroxton House Hotel is also noted as being nearby, with both a bar and food, and within two miles locals can access The Roebuck (Drayton), The Barley Mow (Banbury), The Blinking Owl (North Newington) and The Butchers Arms (Balscote).
On the Wroxton village social media page local people are being urged to object to the planning application in a final attempt to save the pub. Wroxton Parish Council are aware of the proposal, but will not be discussing it until their meeting in March.
After the North Arms closed eight years ago a campaign to save the pub began, with local people trying to raise the funds to buy it.
In 2016 Wroxton College (Fairleigh Dickinson University) announced it had bought the pub and began work liaising with district council planning officers to get permission for the changes they wished to make to the building.
In February last year the college decided to pull out of the project, blaming mounting costs and the business situation due to the pandemic. A statement said: “The College wishes to inform everyone that Fairleigh Dickinson University have reached the conclusion that they are unable to move forward with their plans concerning the renovation and reopening of the North Arms and that, as a result, they will be putting the property on the market for sale (the intention being for sale as a pub).”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
L. Feeley On 31/01/2022 at 11:56 am
Is that the one with a garden? I heard that it was up for sale then sold. That’s the last I heard. Then covid,