Half Moon Inn, Sharow Lane, Sharow, North Yorkshire, HG4 5BP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed change of use of the public house would comply with local and national planning policies which seek to protect existing community facilities, having regard to its Asset of Community Value status, the marketing, and its viability
• The non-designated heritage asset status of the property and its implications for the proposed change of use

What decided it

The appellant failed to demonstrate that there was no reasonable prospect of the Half Moon Inn continuing to operate viably as a public house or other community use, as required by HDLP policy HP8 part C.

The general restoration and energy efficiency benefits cited by the appellant were not specific to residential use and did not outweigh the conflict with policy HP8's protection of the public house as a valued community facility, so the balance tipped against the proposal.