Application to convert Little Bourton’s pub into a house
26/08/2025
A number of conversions of pubs to residential properties have been submitted in recent months
An application to convert Little Bourton’s only pub into a house has been lodged with Cherwell District Council.
The Dirt House on the Southam Road closed last November. Formerly known as the Plough, the pub had reopened in March 2019 under new owners after a previous two-year closure.
The owners believe the business is no longer viable. A comment in the planning application states: “The Applicants have lived in and run the pub for over 6 years. Due to changes since Covid in people’s social habits and difficulties in finding staff to support the continued operation of the business, the business has struggled to turn a profit over the last few years. …. This led to the Applicants finally deciding that they couldn’t continue to run the pub at a loss whilst try to make it a viable business.”
The Dirt House has been marketed as a going concern for 18 months, but without securing a purchaser.
The existing owners say they now want to convert The Dirt House into a residential dwelling which will allow them to continue to live within the community.
A decision on the application is due in October.
The name The Dirt House came about due to the original building having a sawdust earth floor and visiting ploughmen being less than well presented.
Recently plans to convert the Bell Inn pub in Great Bourton into a family home were refused by the Planning Committee. An application to convert The Crown and Tuns in Deddington to a residential property is still under consideration.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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