Plans for former pub conversion near Market Drayton recommended for approval

The proposal involving the former Squirrel Inn at Wollerton near Market Drayton will be discussed by Shropshire Council's north planning committee on Tuesday.

The scheme involves providing an extension at the property as well as converting the ground floor male and female toilets into an internal store, shower room and bathroom.

Hodnet Parish Council has objected to the plans after raising concerns that the extension would appear to be a self-contained unit rather than a "sympathetic" extension of the existing property.

It also feels the detached single storey storage building seems very "excessive" for a private residence and that the building would appear to provide storage of a more commercial nature.

In 2013 a government planning inspector stepped in and approved the controversial plans to turn the only pub in the village into a house – devastating villagers.

At the time residents said transforming the Squirrel Inn into a three-bed property will forever deprive the village of its pub. The plans were thrown out by Shropshire Council the previous year.

Although the pub had been closed since 2010, more than 150 local people signed a petition against the conversion, saying the inn had provided jobs and was used by people in nearby villages.

A report on behalf of the applicant, Claire Howell, says: "The Squirrel is a former public house which became unviable after the Hodnet by-pass was constructed, and planning consent was granted for the building's change of use into a domestic dwelling.

"The refurbishment of the property has been completed with the exception of the two ground floor toilets.

"The current proposal is for the former ground floor female toilet to be used as an internal store, with the former single storey male toilet to be demolished and re-built as a small two storey extension housing a new shower room on the ground floor and a bathroom on the first floor.

"The proposals also include for the timber shed to be resited to the rear of the property, and the former garage and the two storage buildings to be demolished and the materials, where possible, to be recycled.

"A new single storey construction extension will then be constructed, partly adjoining the side elevation of the house to provide the following: study/office, kitchenette, cloaks, replacement storage and a garden room."

A report by Shropshire Council case officer Luke Ashley states: "The scale, form and massing of the alterations proposed to the existing building and the proposed outbuilding represent reasonable additions and would not result in harm to either the character of the site nor the existing amenities of neighbouring properties."

Shropshire Council's north planning will meet at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday at 2pm.