Plans approved for new bungalow on village pub car park despite green belt concerns
Pub car park set to become new home after fresh plans win council approval
Plans to build a bungalow on the car park of a village pub in Wakefield have been approved.
Wakefield Council planners gave the go-ahead for the single-storey property to be built next to The Plough Inn, in Warmfield.
Earlier this year, the local authority refused an application submitted last year for a two-storey, three-bedroom house at the site, saying the scheme was inappropriate for the greenbelt setting.
Redrawn proposals were then put forward in June for a single-story dwelling with a garage and “additional living space built into the roof.”
A planning statement said: “The proposal would not cause substantial harm to openness and therefore constitutes appropriate development in the greenbelt.
“Any conclusion to the contrary would be perverse and may amount to unreasonable behaviour.
“This amended scheme has been carefully designed to address the reasons for refusal in the 2025 application, and ensures that the proposal would respect the character of the immediate area.”
The document said the pub was “not currently in operation” and had “become a magnet for illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour.”
The statement continued: “While the public house is currently closed, it could reopen in the future.
“However, the public house has historically operated alongside neighbouring residential uses without conflict, and there is no evidence to suggest that its reintroduction would cause amenity issues.
“The addition of a further dwelling would therefore remain compatible with the established mixed use character of the area.”
Previous applications to build an apartment block at the site were refused in 2015 and 2021, and subsequent appeals were dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.
One objection to the latest plan was submitted by Warmfield-cum-Heath Parish Council, citing concerns over highway safety and the impact of the development on the greenbelt.
A council officer’s report said the scheme complied with local and national planning policies and was “considered to be acceptable having regards to green belt matters.”