Plans to add flats to Lancashire pub rejected by council

Plans to convert the upper storey of a prominent pub into flats have been rejected by town councillors.
NO FLATS: Longridges Dog Inn and left, the Old Dog InnNO FLATS: Longridges Dog Inn and left, the Old Dog Inn
NO FLATS: Longridges Dog Inn and left, the Old Dog Inn

Neighbours had raised concerns about noise, lack of parking and the fact that the Dog Inn, Longridge is in a conservation area.

Owner Ben Lee had submitted a change of use application to convert the upper floors to five, one-bedroomed apartments.

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Plans also included parking to the rear, the removal of an external escape stair and rear porch and re-opening the tap room.

Longridge Town Council heard from resident Karl Kirkup and borough councillor Ken Hind, who underlined local concerns on traffic, the impact on homes in Darwen Close, Risedale Drive, Swarbrick Court and Fleming Square, and on adjacent businesses and the cinema.

Darwen Close resident Mr Kirkup said he and neighbours were concerned with not being informed of work on the site. He also raised the state of the former bowling green behind the pub, uprooted trees and shrubs removing privacy for adjacent houses.

“There are old mattresses, water everywhere, no drainage – like a rubbish tip,” he said.

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Coun Hind said everyone he had spoken to wanted to preserve the pub.

The meeting heard developer Stan Ainsworth bought the site then sold the building to Mr Lee. Mr Ainsworth, as site owner, had cleared the land aiming to build flats.

The rejection will now be sent to Ribble Valley Council’s planning committee for a final decision.

The Evening Post also learned that this week, Mr Ainsworth has submitted a planning application for outline planning consent to build three-storey blocks of 36 flats on the land behind the Dog Inn.

This will be considered by planning authorities at a later date.

The pub replaced the Old Dog Inn which was demolished in 1912.

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