Second bid to rescue pub where ‘football was born’

A PUB where it is believed the rules of modern-day football were drawn up could once again be saved after council leaders approved recommendations to award it asset of community value status for a second time.

Until late last year, the Plough Inn on Sandygate, Crosspool, Sheffield, looked safe after campaign group Save the Plough and a mystery businessperson bid £435,000 for the building in an attempt to stop it falling into the hands of a developer and being turned into flats or a shop.

But the campaigners were outbid and former owners – Enterprise Inns, trading as Ei Group, which had claimed the site was not sustainable for a pub – sold it to a developer.

Until last August the pub – which closed in 2016 – had been listed by Sheffield Council as an asset of community value, meaning it cannot be converted to another use or demolished without planning permission.

Now Coun Jayne Dunn, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, approved a recommendation by the authority’s planning board to award the Plough Inn asset of community value status for a second time.

It is hoped that this will secure the building’s future and hopes have been raised that the community can determine what happens next with the historic building and former community hub.

Coun Dunn said: “I don’t want to see developers riding roughshod over the wishes of the local community – so I found it an easy decision to award the asset of community value status to the Plough.”

Peter Duff, chairman of the campaign group fighting to save the Plough, welcomed the announcement.

The decision once more means that the building cannot be demolished.