Pub-to-house plan abandoned

A second attempt to turn a village pub into a family home has been abandoned.

Last year, Kevin Makepeace applied to Scarborough Council to use the Ox Inn at Lebberston as a house following a number of failed attempts to keep it operating as a business.

In his submission, Mr Makepeace stated that he bought the business out of receivership nine years ago and that the pub was no longer “financially viable”.

Scarborough Council planners refused the request, saying that not enough “robust” evidence had been supplied to show that there was no interest in retaining the pub.

Six people also objected to the plans as did the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which claimed the pub had declined due to a “laissez-faire attitude to opening hours”.

Earlier this year, Mr Makepeace submitted a revised application to the council, again asking for permission to turn the village pub into a home.

However, the council has now confirmed that the second application has now been withdrawn.

Mr Makepeace’s submission stated that the pub was unlikely to ever reopen.

He wrote: “The Ox Inn being the smaller of the pubs in the village and has not been commercially viable for several years.

“The premises should have ceased trading a long time ago if it was not for a financial subsidy from the property owner.

“This financial assistance is not sustainable and has now ceased.

“The commercial rent agreed for the Ox Inn was set over 12 years ago with no increase since.

“To try and make the pub financially viable the pub owners implemented major rent reductions.

“These reduced rents have not averted year on year poor trading figure.

“The actual amount of rent collected in the last trading year was around the same amount as a landlord would achieve for a one-bedroomed flat in Scarborough.

“This confirms the business is unsustainable and is unlikely to ever open again.”