Plans submitted to convert the Pheasant Inn in Casterton into housing

Paul and Carole Wilson have submitted a planning application to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to convert the Pheasant Inn in Casterton, as well as the accompanying ten bedrooms and manager’s quarters, into three homes.

Previous plans to convert the pub into homes were shelved in March after residents raised concerns about a community facility being lost.

A group of residents set up Casterton Community Hub, intending to apply for grant funding to help make a community bid for the pub.

Chair of Casterton Community Hub Ian Hodge said: “The number of objections as per 11 months ago is increasing on a daily basis so I don’t think the opinion of the community has changed.”

Mr Hodge told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the pub is the ‘only social place’ within walking distance and brings tourists into the village .

He added: “Most of the revenue from the tourists goes to the pub that they’re staying in but it’s also a driving factor for the relatively small number of people who own second homes or have holiday lets in the village.

“The reason they’re here is because there’s a pub and we would lose that aspect of the community.”

However the applicants say the business has been up for sale for seven years and add without permission to develop they will have ‘no option’ but to close the premises down.

The applicants statement says: “Financially, the poor business cash flow is not sustainable. The business is propped up by personal savings which will need to come to an end very soon since we will run out of savings in the coming months.”

According to the applicants, local staffing remains an ‘issue’ with planning documents raising concerns over poor public transport and lack of rental accommodation in the area.

The applicants’ statement says: “Our ability to recruit local staff remains one of our biggest threats resulting in reduced operational hours. This becomes a self-perpetuating problem: without staff to open, we can’t improve turnover to make the business viable.”

The statement said the landlords had a buyer lined up for the pub but after several months they pulled out.

On February 5 the Pheasant Inn was registered as an asset of community value with Westmorland and Furness Council.

Mr Hodge explained the group intended to apply for the community ownership fund available under the previous government but this initiative was frozen in the pre-election period. The new government has not yet reinstated the scheme.

If a similar fund was reintroduced, Mr Hodge said: “We’ve got all the paperwork together, we’ve got the numbers, we’ve got a business plan, we’d just have to update that to the latest figures and submit an application.

“If that was successful we’d then look at the community share offer to try and raise the rest of the money.”

The proposed scheme would provide two four-bedroomed homes and one three-bedroom home, plans state.

The design and access statement concludes: “It is considered that the proposed works will significantly improve and enhance the existing none- designated heritage asset and make a positive contribution to the immediate local area by providing short term employment opportunities and long terms housing for families.”

This planning application is under public consultation.