Plans to convert Oxfordshire pub and car park into new homes

The historic Crawley Inn in Witney is 'a blight on the village', with a makeshift campsite being set up on land behind the car park, say planning documents.

In 2020 June 2020 a blaze broke out at the pub that was so devastating firefighters said they would never be able to say exactly what caused it.

More than 50 firefighters from six stations were sent to tackle the blaze which was in the roof and areas of the first floor, forcing residents to evacuate quickly.

READ MORE: Landlord plans to convert Oxfordshire pub into home sparks fears

Since that devastating event the pub, which ran a campsite and was popular with bikers, has been in a state of disrepair with massive structural damage and has remained permanently closed.

Following the death of the owner, the venue was put up for sale.

Now Logic Land and Property Ltd have applied to West Oxfordshire District Council to convert the pub in Foxburrow Lane into three homes.

They also propose to build four cottages along the lane and one family home set further back from the road almost opposite the pub.

They say the building is not economically viable as a pub especially as the village also already has The Lamb Inn.

Their plans include converting the building back into its three distinct parts while "returning the exterior of the building to its historic Cotswold character" and retaining the natural stone walls and stone roof tiling.

In a presentation they say there were many side additions to the building - many of them not legally permitted - that caused a problem during the fire as the fire brigade couldn’t access the back of the premises.

"As you come in from Hailey into Crawley along Foxburrow Lane this old pub building, and the car park isn’t particularly welcoming and creates a feeling of neglect," they say.

The new cottages will have small front gardens with parking provided for all eight new homes at the back.

Access will be from the existing access point for the pub car park.

"We will also introduce safety measures to ensure that the new residents can get safely in and out without making Foxburrow Lane dangerous," say the developers.

"Our intention is to make 'local' an absolute priority, right through from using local builders building with local materials in the local architectural style and then prioritise selling these homes to local people.

"We are determined to make a positive contribution to Crawley with our plans by bringing a historic building back into use and providing some new homes on a site that historically caused problems and a blight on the village."

Logic Land and Property has run a consultation in which 98 per cent of the villagers were generally supportive of the proposals.

The plans are now under consideration by West Oxfordshire District Council.