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Search the Public Notice PortalThere are fears as a pub site in a major development is up for sale with concerns that the land will be put to other use or remain derelict.
Lot 3 on the partially built 1,500-home Kingsgrove estate in Wantage is listed for sale with agents Carter Jonas advertising it as price on asking.
Its listing states: “This parcel has outline planning permission for a pub/restaurant but may be suitable for alternative uses, subject to planning.”
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The 0.98-acre area was earmarked for a pub or restaurant when the initial planning application by St Modwen was approved in 2015.
However, finding a company to come in, build and run it has proven challenging, and at one point there was a proposal to turn it into retirement apartments.
That was rejected and, as such, with the development around half complete the land remains derelict.
“The issue is a matter of expectation versus reality,” said James Hodgson, part of the residents working group.
He explained: “A lot of people will say that they were promised a pub by the developer or individual salespeople but that was never a certainty.”
Mr Hodgson pointed to the growing challenges in the hospitality industry and said the initial outlay would likely be massive.
“I would love a pub but that is not the world we live in anymore," he said.
Other residents also said they wanted it to be a pub, as did local councillor Andrew Crawford.
“I think it's a great disappointment that there's nobody out there that's prepared to invest their money to open a pub,” he said.
He suggested it would be worth looking into whether any future building might have a pub or restaurant on the ground floor with private accommodation around it.
The councillor said: “That's clearly something that the planning authorities would have to have to look at and depending on the details, I might well support that.”
Residents were positive about the community atmosphere developing at Kingsgrove but also said they wanted more facilities.
There is a Co-op on site, as well as a community centre, a multi-use games area and a primary school.
“It would be nice to have a pub, or a food establishment,” said Danielle Marie, who added she was sad to see the temporary café close down.
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Mr Hodgson too called that “very frustrating” and said it happened when the three empty retail units were delivered.
Even so, Mr Crawford said the developers had done “pretty well” on delivering infrastructure and was sure they are doing everything possible when it come to Lot 3.
He said: “Leaving it derelict is certainly not in St Modwen's interests and I'm sure they'll be doing everything they can to sell it for a use that is acceptable.”
St Modwen was approached for comment.
