Milton Brewery has reacted angrily to South Cambs District Council (SCDC) turning down their planning application for creating more space and improved facilities at the Rose & Crown.
Pub group Individual Pubs Ltd, established to run pubs serving Milton Brewery beers, had requested Listed Building Consent to replace some outbuildings with a new single storey side and rear extension. Their plans also proposed other related external works, including an air source heat pump.
‘Unsympathetic addition’
Consultees included Histon & Impington Parish Council, who expressed their support for the work, subject to Highways Authority concerns being resolved and an acoustic fence installed to protect neighbouring properties.
But objections to the plans were raised by the SCDC Conservation Officer, who said the “position and form, and to some extent size”, of the proposed extension “fails to be sympathetic to the listed buildings”. They also commented on the proposed “boundary placement” of the building, saying it is “harmful to the character and setting of the listed building at No.4 Glebe Way” – also a Grade II listed building.
In refusing the application, planners endorsed the Officer’s view, saying that the proposed extension is an “unsympathetic addition” to the building and that the plans breach a section of the legislation covering listed buildings and conservation areas, as well as the National Planning Policy Framework and the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan.
Challenges and ambitions
The Rose & Crown had sat empty for some considerable time under previous owners, Everards, before Milton Brewery announced plans to take over the pub in September 2024.
Talking to HI HUB last autumn, brewer Richard Naisby was mindful of the pub being a Grade II listed building when he revealed some of the challenges they faced. “Radical change is not just unlikely but forbidden”, he said.
Sharing his frustrations at refusal of the plans, he told HI HUB: “The decision is a shocker. The local plan mentions the Rose & Crown by name as something to be supported and, though a listed building, [SCDC’s] own decision refers to ‘less than substantial harm’ to the heritage asset. What they seek to ‘conserve’ is the motley collection of outbuildings which is frankly an eyesore.
“We reached out to the three local councillors to ask them to call in the decision – without effect. All of the public comments were supportive of our plans including the Campaign for Pubs and Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). We put a lot of work into the application and the arbitrary way it has been rejected is infuriating.
“We are considering our options – including appeal to the Planning Inspectorate – but it all adds vastly to time and expense and represents a genuine risk to the future of the pub. We’ve posted the decision notice in the pub so people can judge for themselves – but it is a shoddy piece of work.”
Support and advice
Commenting on the situation, recently elected District Councillor for Histon & Impington James Rixon, shared: “All three District Councillors have endeavoured to provide supportive advice on and explanation of the planning process to the applicant Mr Naisby.
“Collectively we recognise the importance of the Rose and Crown to Histon & Impington and the challenges faced in updating it to be a thriving business and community asset.
“The feedback from officers was clear in that, whilst they suggest a new extension to the property could be supported, the submitted design was not acceptable from a heritage perspective, due to its impact and close proximity to the listed property.”
Full details of the application, reference 24/04242/LBC, can be seen on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website.
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