The Grantley Arms, Ripon: Plans submitted to convert 17th century pub on fringes of Yorkshire Dales into housing

The owners of the Grantley Arms, in Grantley, near Ripon, which dates back to the late 1600s, unsuccessfully tried to sell it last year.

Now, with plans formally submitted to change the stone-built inn’s use, Camra’s regional representative is among those to file objections.

Allan Gauld, chairman of the Harrogate and Ripon branch, warned that pressing ahead with any change of use would mean the great loss of a “community asset” and should not be done without “serious attempts” to explore all options.

Planning decisions should guard against the loss of valued assets such as pub, he added in written submissions.

Mr Gauld said: “The council should strongly support retaining public houses in rural areas, particularly where the availability of other community premises is limited.

“Public houses raise the quality of community life and the environment in rural areas and help promote thriving, inclusive and sustainable communities.”

The planning application, from the pub's family owners, seeks permissopn to convert the building and an associated landlord’s flat into a house and holiday let.

In submissions from estate agents, documents detail how it was put up for sale in February last year and marketed until this May, but with little interest.

With an asking price of £695,000, it drew just three viewings and one bid – at £550,000 – which the estate agents advised against accepting.

But Mr Gauld said there must be evidence that the Grantley Arms is not financially viable, arguing that trading accounts from the pub’s last three years of full-time operation should be submitted.

“Applications for change of use or redevelopment should be resisted, unless convincing evidence can be provided to show that the public house is not economically viable and is no longer required to meet the needs of the local community,” he said.