Another planning application has been submitted by the owners to convert the White Lion to housing. However, this application is only for conversion of the upstairs area to flats, with the downstairs area being retained as a pub. Importantly the owners claim they now accept the Council’s and communities preference for retaining the pub and that a mixed use proposal would be a significant benefit and make the pub more attractive.

There are two ways of looking at this:

That the planning application would compromise the operation and viability of the White Lion to run as a pub. The loss of the ancillary accommodation upstairs would be damaging to the continuing pub business. The availability of accommodation makes the White Lion a much more attractive proposition to prospective tenants or managers. Any adverse impact on trade and viability would actually be welcomed by the applicant and they would go on to claim that the business is not viable and therefore full change of use is justified. This is effectively what has happened at the Villagers, Blackheath.

Alternatively, this could be viewed as a genuine attempt to provide a viable pub. The proposal now retains and facilitates use of the ground floor as a pub with improved facilities, such as new toilets and a kitchen, to make it more viable and attractive to potential occupiers. This is the situation with the Queen Stage (Sir Douglas Haig) Effingham – However, it is also made clear that the owners have no wish to run the pub themselves, but rather lease it out to others to do so. The Aldershot Community Pub Ltd are therefore urgently getting in touch with the owners, to see if they will lease the pub to them. This will help to establish whether the owners intentions are genuine or whether it is just a ruse to convert the White Lion to private accommodation by stealth.

The ACPL is currently formulating its view as to how it will respond to the consultation but their initial view is that:

They are concerned that the proposed ‘improvements’ may make the pub less attractive with a reduction in usable pub floorspace, the removal of disabled access via the side entrance, the removal of a function room, the reduction/removal of a beer garden and the removal of a urinal albeit with the positives of an improved kitchen and additional ladies pedestal
they are confused by the provision of a marketing document that still inaccurately states a negative view of the pub’s financial feasibility despite it’s pre-Covid success – yet it accompanies new plans to now develop the pub proving agreement with it indeed being viable.

They consider the lack of provision of a domicile for a pub manager or landlord is a retrograde step.

Most importantly they wish to highlight that the suggested pub plans are not part of the planning application and affect a vital community hub.  To prevent this becoming a ‘change of use by stealth’ they would require first that the developer be legally bound so residency of the flats above be subject to completion of the proposed change to the pub being delivered first.

We have until 23rd March to submit an objection or support the application and full details can be found on Rushmoor Borough Council’s Website, by searching for the planning application number 22/00159/FULPP HERE