Vacant village pub could become five-bedroom house

A village pub which has been closed for about six years could be transformed into a home under plans put forward by the owner.

The proposal to convert The Castle Inn, Little Birch, near Hereford, into a five-bedroom house was recently submitted by applicant Dee Langford.

According to the plans, much of the building's layout would be preserved while the bar area would be turned into a lounge.

The former venue, which previously let five guest rooms upstairs, has been closed since 2020 and there have since been failed attempts to register it as an asset of community value.

It had been nominated by Little Birch Parish Council but its application was turned down by Herefordshire Council.

The parish council said it was found to be ineligible under the Localism Act 2011 because it "did not currently further the social wellbeing or interests of the community".

In response to the planning application to turn it into a house, Mark Haslam, from the Herefordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said he would attempt to gauge local feeling on the pub's potential loss.

He said the group would only campaign against the proposal if there was a clear demand to retain the venue.

The planning application has been submitted to Herefordshire Council, which is aiming to make a decision by 27 July.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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