®Planning appeal decision
Bell Hill, Stapleton, Bristol, BS16 1BQ
Change of use from public house (Sui Generis) to mixed use Class F2 (Local Community Uses), Class C3 (retention and extension of existing dwelling) and Class C4 (regularisation of existing shared accommodation)
- Authority
- Bristol City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- change of use · Change of use
- Inspector
- Conde L
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the facilities offered by the Merchant Arms Public House should be retained to serve the needs of the local community, having regard to local and national planning policies
What decided it
The failure to demonstrate that the public house use is unviable, combined with the absence of alternative public house provision within a reasonable walking distance, means the proposal conflicts with Policy DM6 of the Local Plan, and this conflict is not outweighed by the modest housing and community benefits.
The conflict with Policy DM6 was given significant weight; the modest housing benefits (regularisation of 6-bed HMO and flat on brownfield land) and limited community benefits (function space less inclusive than a pub) did not outweigh the loss of the established public house use, resulting in adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighing benefits under the Framework.
Framework references: 11, 60
Plan policies cited: Policy DM6, Policy BSC12, Policy DM5
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.