REFUSED: Change of use from Public House and Restaurant to Retail and Function Hall and Residence

DC/22/05986 Lavenham, Babergh District Council

See full details here.

This is a difficult challenge, every Village, Town and City Centre business is facing very challenging times and needs to look to all alternative uses in order to survive.

The application is to create a functions hall, which would retain the vitality of the building, but would limit this to the times when it is in use, and not the more extensive opening times and wider public use offered by the existing pub and restaurant. So what are the alternatives? Will the pub close if this approval is not granted, and what then of the future of the listed building which needs to be used and maintained to remain in good order.

The application is for change of use to Class E, which also contains a series of other uses, created in 2020 specifically to give flexibility to businesses fighting the inflexibility of the planning system, but in this case if approved then a historic building in a key location in the village centre could become inaccessible when currently it is, and thus a loss to the community.

PAPA SAYS - This is a conundrum, we understand the concerns of the Local Authority, but also the plight of the building owners. it is likely that they will pursue this at appeal as they are using planning consultants, and it will then depend upon the planning inspector to look at the balance and decide what is best for this building in this location.