The Test Valley Borough Council has rejected a plan to convert a closed pub in a village near Andover into a residential property, stating that it would result in the loss of a valuable community facility.

The Boot Inn, located on Shipton Bellinger High Street, ceased operations in 2022 after serving the community for 26 years.

The owners of the establishment, Lee and Sally Turland, submitted a proposal earlier this year to convert the pub into a house after failing to find a buyer during six months on the market.

The plan also involved transforming an outbuilding into a separate residence and constructing two additional houses in the pub's back garden.

READ MORE: The Boot Inn in Shipton Bellinger closes after 26 years

However, the Test Valley Borough Council dismissed the proposal, arguing that the proposed development would not align with the area's character and appearance, and it would result in the loss of a significant community asset.

The council further criticised the insufficient evidence provided to demonstrate the pub's lack of commercial viability.

Considered as a non-designated heritage asset, the Boot Inn closed its doors in July 2022, as the owners cited the dwindling interest in the hospitality industry following the impact of the Covid pandemic.

In their planning application, Lee and Sally Turland expressed their disappointment, stating that despite actively marketing the property for half a year, they received minimal interest in reusing the space as a pub or for any other community-oriented purpose.

The Boot Inn was listed with Sidney Phillips and offered for sale at a price of £850,000.

The proposed conversion aimed to transform the former pub into a spacious five-bedroom house, while the outbuilding was to be converted into a two-bedroom residence.

The plan also included the construction of two detached houses with private rear gardens.

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Rejecting the proposal, the council officer said changing the pub to residential use would fundamentally alter its character.

The decision notice said: “Even if the signage is retained, which does not appear to be proposed, a pub has a very different presence to a dwelling. It is considered this would harm the character of the pub itself, as well as erode the setting of the church and former school [near the pub] through the loss of the traditional facility.

“In principle, there would be no objection to a sympathetic conversion of the outbuildings to a dwelling, as long as this did not cause harm to the viability of the pub use. Likewise, there would be no objection in principle to the erection of some dwellings at the rear of the pub, but only if this does not harm the viability of the site.”

The council officer also said the proposal has not included sufficient evidence that demonstrates that the pub is no longer commercially viable.