Angus villagers are on the brink of losing their battle to stop the community’s only pub being converted into housing.
Despite Inverkeilor residents’ fears that the end of the Chance Inn will drive another nail into the once thriving sense of community there, planning officials are recommending a green light for a flats plan when it comes before development standards councillors in Forfar today.
The Main Street hostelry went out of business in July 2013 and has lain empty since then.
Although it was extensively advertised, the sandstone building drew little interest and no formal offers.
Applicants Infinitas2 bought the Chance for around £200,000 earlier this year and in their supporting statement to today’s committee point to the fact that the pub has had four different operators in the past six years.
“None could make it pay. There are dozens of such businesses for sale throughout Scotland as they are not viable for a small population,” add the applicants.
Planners say the affordable homes proposal will involve little external alteration to the building and the conversion would see the creation of three two-bed and four one-bed flats for private rent, which those behind the scheme say there is a clear demand for.
“Research indicates that there are 189 applicants on the housing list in the Inverkeilor area seeking one-bedroom accommodation and 73 seeking two-bedroom accommodation,” states the developer.
In all, seven letters of representation have been submitted to the council from half a dozen households.
Their chief concern regards the loss of one of the last remaining community facilities and potential impact on community life.
Officials say that although the applicants have submitted information in an attempt to demonstrate it is no longer viable, their view is that it is “not sufficiently robust to demonstrate the business is not viable or that it has been marketed for sale at a reasonable price for a reasonable period”.
However, they accept the plan would allow the vacant building to be brought back into a purposeful new use and point towards other community facilities including a successful neighbouring restaurant with accommodation and the primary school and village hall.
“While retention of the public house and tourist accommodation is desirable, the village would retain a reasonable offering of community facilities and services,” states the official approval recommendation.
“The proposed new use would add to the mix of accommodation available in the village. There are no material considerations which justify refusal of the application.”
Photo by Angus Pictures