Hampshire country pub plans for new accommodation permitted

As previously reported, the proposal, submitted by Lochstill Ltd, is to create a new building with five bedrooms for letting, parking and outside seating, behind The Dove Inn in Andover Road, Micheldever Station.

It was unanimously approved by city councillors on the planning committee.

Cllr Stephen Godfrey, who represents the Micheldever and Wonston Ward, said he supported it but only if conditions were put in place.

Cllr Godfrey (Image: Contributed)

He told the committee: “In Micheldever Station, there are four private water treatment plants serving multiple properties in this small settlement. All four have failed to some degree during my time as councillor, and two are still failing. This includes the one serving the homes in Brunel Close and the Dove Inn.

“Despite years of investigation, it has not been possible to upgrade the system. This has concerned residents and the parish council; that an increase in residents at the Dove Inn site will exacerbate the problems of the current sewage treatment arrangement.

“I am in favour of the application as it would improve the economic sustainability of the pub. Removing the inn from the Brunel Close treatment plant and putting it on its own treatment system would be acceptable.”

Speaking in support of the plans, the pub's owner Kim Gottlieb, a former city councillor, said: “As you heard, the chief reason for objecting to this proposal was the additional burden the new bedrooms might place on the sewage treatment plant that we share with the 38 houses in Brunel Close.

The old coach house behind The Dove Inn (Image: WCC)

“This objection has been addressed by us including, in this proposal, a commitment to install our own treatment plant on our land. This will cater for the additional bedrooms and for the whole pub. We will be completely detached from the original system.  It will then be cheaper for Brunel Close to replace the existing plant. This commitment has been secured by a planning condition.”

Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith said: “I live in a rural area, and I know the struggles for businesses of this type to survive. This seems to be a good scheme for the pub to serve the community. I will be supporting it.”

The planning committee unanimously voted to permit the application.