Plans to build homes on a pub’s popular beer garden near Bristol rejected

Plans to build homes on a pub’s popular beer garden near Bristol have been rejected by North Somerset Council.

The Bristol Inn in Clevedon could have lost part of its large beer garden to a terrace of three homes, which would have been accessed by driving though the pub car park.

But the proposal failed to find favour with the pub’s landlord, neighbours or local police force.

The police warned: “Should the council be minded to approve this application, measures to design out crime should be reflected in the design and layout.”

They supplied figures showing 115 reported incidents of various crime and anti-social behaviour within 200 metres of the proposed site of the homes in a 12 month period.

When they submitted the application last year, pub chain owner Punch Pubs said: “We understand the importance of the pub within the local community and are confident that any development to this area will not negatively impact the pub.”

But the Bristol Inn’s landlord said: “Personally, I don’t think it’s a great idea. It’s going to take away a lot of the garden space that we use in the summer.”

People living in the historic cottages behind the beer garden on Lime Kiln Lane were also concerned about the impact on them.

One neighbour said: “These dwellings would also block out huge amounts of daylight especially from midday when the light comes from that direction. This is a huge concern of mine and my mental wellbeing.”

The police added: “The proposed new dwellings appear to be closer to the public house than any existing surrounding dwellings. Future residents of new dwellings located in such close proximity to a licensed premises could potentially be impacted by activity or noise occurring in, or spilling out of the pub.”

The plans have now been rejected by North Somerset Council. A council report stated: “It is considered that the proposal would result in poor living standards, adverse impact on neighbouring properties, harm to character and appearance of area, [and] adverse impact on highway safety.”