THE Council’s planning committee rejected the application proposing the demolition of the White Horse pub in Old Harlow.
The application forwarded the idea of replacing the site with four detached two-storey houses with gardens and on-site car parking totalling eight spaces.
Nestled in Old Harlow, the White Horse pub had served as a community hub for locals over the years.
Stuart Crook, a resident in Old Harlow spoke for the demolition of the pub,. Mr Crook said: “I lived there for 24 years, and I never knew anything about the history, and I don’t think many other people even did.” Locals living opposite the White Horse pub expressed their concern over the ‘lack of fencing’ surrounding the proposed car park.
Another resident, suggested security to be re-evaluated. “We do not have any objection over the proposal. However, the demolition of the pub will open up one side of our garden, it doesn’t offer us any security”
The Council’s planning committee, then debated the proposal with Cllr. John Steer. A committee member spoke for the demolition, comparing the removal of ‘The Hummingbird pub’ as a similar situation. “This building has existed without any heritage designation whatsoever, so I suggest slap it on now.”
A planning officer replied, “We can only look at this site in terms of the policy requirements.” He added that the building is ‘a heritage asset’ and they have conducted those tests investigating the buildings features.
Cllr. Nicky Purse raised the point of “Four houses may be one too many” and whilst the planning proposal suggested the idea of a four detached two-storey house, other suggestions or uses for the site are not ‘transparent’ and there isn’t enough clarity on what else the site could be used for. “On this occasion, with the information we have, I suggest we reject this application”.
Cllr. Michael Garnett said, ‘there are too many problems’ and to ‘take a step back and to discuss these problems with the planning department’.
The Committee then voted in favour of refusing permission and suggested ‘going back to the drawing board and to highlight the issues with the planning department’ due to the ‘poor quality design and layout.’