Council rejects plans to demolish former award-winning pub in Derbyshire town and replace it with homes

North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC) has refused the plans to demolish the former Three Tuns pub on Cemetery Road in Dronfield and build two homes in its place.

The pub had scooped some prestigious awards in its heyday – being named the Dronfield and District CAMRA Pub of the Year and Derbyshire CAMRA Pub of the Year for 2013.

The managers of the pub were served with an eviction notice in 2017, following a dispute between themselves and the landlord. Despite 700 people signing a petition against the closure, the venue shut shortly after.

The applicant proposed to construct two substantial detached dwellings on the site. The stone-built properties would have consisted of three stories and incorporated five to six bedrooms – with plans for the homes to front onto Chesterfield Road.

Documents detailing the decision to reject the proposals said that NEDDC had identified The Three Tuns as a character building, “considered to represent a good example of an inter-war era public house constructed in a neo-Tudor design style.”

The statement added that, “based on its architectural, historical and potential evidential value – and identification as a character building in the Dronfield Neighbourhood Plan – the building is considered to represent a non-designated heritage asset.”

This neighbourhood plan states that the loss of, or substantial harm to, such buildings will not be supported unless it is demonstrated that any loss or harm cannot be avoided or mitigated – and would clearly be outweighed by the benefits of any development.

The council’s statement said: “As a consequence of their proposed position, substantial size, mass and design, the two new properties are considered to represent a weaker design response to the site than the existing pub.”

It added that the loss of the building “would not be outweighed by any benefits” and “would be detrimental to the character of the area.”

NEDDC also said that the plans were not accompanied by sufficient information to demonstrate the presence or otherwise of protected species and the extent that they may be affected by the proposed development.

For these two reasons, the authority opted not to grant permission for the demolition of the venue.

A number of Dronfield residents responded to the proposals for the redevelopment of the site – and their reaction to the plans was mixed. Some objected on the basis of highway safety concerns, and said that the building should be refurbished. Those in support said the building had been vacant for some time and was in a poor condition, and stressed the local need for housing.

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Dronfield Town Council raised concerns that the two houses would be “too large”, but Dronfield Civic Society supported the application – stating that it made use of a brownfield site in a sustainable location and included adequate parking.