South Oxfordshire village pub will be replaced with homes

South Oxfordshire District councillors made the decision at a planning meeting on Wednesday night to convert the Horse and Harrow pub in West Hagbourne into one three-bed home and one four-bed home.

The newly approved application will also lead to the construction of another four-bed home and five-bed home on land adjacent to the pub, as well as associated parking and landscaping.

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Ali Gordon-Creed, Green councillor of the Chinnor ward, said: "I feel really sad.

"We have no choice to get rid of one remaining community building in this village.

"That is the feedback we’ve had."

West Hagbourne. (Image: Google Maps.)

The decision comes just less than a month after councillors unanimously went against officers recommendations to approve the conversion in a March 13 planning meeting.

Six councillors voted in favour, one voted against and there were three abstentions in the latest decision. 

A viability study by estate company Savills from October 2022 found the pub was “unviable” as a business.

It added: “There are better located venues with superior facilities within close proximity.”

Councillor Tim Bearder, who represents the Forest Hill and Holton ward, had said at March's meeting: "It's a crazy system that there has been an appeal against the previous refusal and we haven't heard that.

"We previously said we don't think this is non-viable and now we are being asked to change our mind."

The chairman of the meeting on Wednesday this week revealed the appeal report had been released the morning after March's meeting.

Tim Bearder. (Image: Ed Nix.)

Councillors made the decision on Wednesday to back the officer's recommendations in light of the report.

One official said the application now did "actually support the committee in a number of ways".

He added: "What I did like is I think it only slightly goes in favour of the applicant.

"There are 24 conditions – normally a reasonable application might get seven or eight conditions."

But Conservative councillor Ken Arlett, of the Henley ward, said: "Nothing really has changed.

"I understand why it's come back to us but this hasn’t changed my mind or opinion.

South Oxfordshire District Councillors made the call.

"I think the inspector is wrong and I certainly will not support the officers' recommendation.

"I still believe it is a financially viable enterprise if it is run properly."

Objectors conceded the pub had become an "unwelcome" place.

A council officer said: "There has been a sharp decline in use of the pub.

"A lot of competition has made it difficult for a pub in a small village."

Councillor Ed Sadler, of the Chinnor ward, said one thing the appeal report had shed light on was that there was "actually another pub in Upton in walking distance and the community had met there".

"I think that's quite telling," the Liberal Democrat added.