Plans to convert Great Bourton’s pub to a house recommended for go ahead
13/05/2025
Evidence provided by the Hook Norton Brewery swayed planning officers
by Esme Kenney, Local Democracy Reporter
Villagers are outraged after controversial plans for an Oxfordshire village pub which had more than 200 objections were recommended for approval.
James Day submitted an application to turn the Bell Inn pub in Church Manor Road in Great Bourton into a family home.
The pub has been closed since 2023, and Mr Day bought the property in May last year.
A decision is due to be made by Cherwell District Council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday which starts at 4pm.
So far the plans have received 239 objections and nine supporting comments.
A campaign to ‘Save the Bell Inn’ was also launched in response to the plans.
Members of the campaign group pushed for the pub to be registered as an Asset of Community Value, and have encouraged residents to object to the planning application.
Hook Norton Brewery, which used to own the pub, commented on the application to set out their reasons for selling the pub, including the impact of the pandemic, and that turnover was too low to even break even.
Planning officers have recommended the plans for approval because the development does not conflict with development plan policies and guidance, and would be considered a sustainable development.
In the committee report, officers said: “Overall, therefore, whilst the loss of a village public house is regrettable, in this specific case there is considered to be adequate justification – principally that presented by Hook Norton Brewery – for the change of use of the public house.”
Although the pub was successfully registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) in January, the report notes that “the full weight of this doesn’t come into effect unless the premises is to be sold and therefore other material considerations outweigh the ACV status.”
The Save the Bell Inn Committee is calling for as a many people as possible to attend the planning meeting next week to show solidarity against the plans.
The committee said its campaign had faced “a fair amount of challenges and disappointments”, including campaign posters being ripped down.
Councillor Chris Brant and councillor Phil Chapman, who both represent the Cropedy, Sibfords and Wroxton wards, called the application in to the committee due to “significant public interest”.
In the scheme’s planning report, it said: “It is understood that The Bell Inn public house has been owned as a freehold interest by Hook Norton Brewery for many years and was previously operated by occupying tied tenants who held traditional brewery tied tenancies.
“It is apparent that despite reopening after the ending of the Covid pandemic, the owning brewery company was unable to sustain an occupying tenant to run The Bell Inn, resulting in them being left with vacant possession of the property in January 2023.
“The proposed alterations to this building are minor and would be sympathetic to the form and character of the main building and the wider area.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
Dave farr On 15/05/2025 at 9:41 pm
hook Norton breweries are selling their entire estate. other pubs once owned by them are now thriving. . the brewery
is at fault here.