Last pub in the village of Reed saved

A Planning Inspector has dismissed an appeal against a refusal by North Hertfordshire District Council to grant retrospective permission for a change of use of premises from a public house to a single dwelling. The Cabinet, a Grade II listed building, had been a pub since at least 1806 but had ceased trading in recent years. The Appellant had purchased the Cabinet and converted it to a dwelling without planning permission. The Appellant’s retrospective application for a change of use, and the subsequent appeal, generated substantial local interest, including from the Save the Cabinet Action Group who objected to the application. Following a three-day public inquiry, the Inspector found that the Appellant had failed to show that all reasonable attempts had been made to market for a pub use during a period of vacancy, and that it had not been demonstrated that use of the Cabinet as a pub was unviable. He also found that the heritage harm caused by the change of use was not outweighed by the public benefits. Anjoli Foster represented North Hertfordshire District Council. Matthew Henderson represented the Save the Cabinet Action Group.