Brighton pub campaigners call for support to block conversion

06-Oct-2014 - Last updated on 07-Oct-2014 at 07:54 GMT

Rose Hill Tavern Action group is hoping people will object to the planning application

Campaigners battling to save a Brighton pub are appealing for support to block the owner’s planning application to convert the building into residential use.

New owners of the Rose Hill Tavern, Evenden Estates, have submitted an application to Brighton & Hove City Council to convert the ground floor and basement of the pub into a three-bedroom flat. The existing first floor flat would be retained in its current format.

The pub was granted asset of community value status in May, just as the private property developers were in the process of buying the site from Enterprise Inns.

Richard James, a member of the Rose Hill Tavern Action group, which successfully defended an appeal by Evenden Estates to have the ACV status overturned in July, said: “We are simply trying to get more support on this matter, as the more objections the more chance the council will not grant this planning application on the ACV-listed pub.”

The group was set up to raise the £350,000 plus VAT needed to buy the property outright from the developers through a share scheme.

Community needs

ACV status gives the community six months to bid for the property before it can be put on the open market and can give authorities greater ability to refuse planning applications from developers.

However, Joanne Harris of Evenden Estates stated in the planning application that the change of use “will not reduce the ability of the community to meet its day to day needs”.

“The public house is already closed and so is not serving the community anyway, and there are at least 10 public houses nearby,” she added.

The council are set to decide whether to grant planning permission on 12 November.