A historic pub could soon be turned into housing following the submission of a planning application.
Amplio bought The George in High Street, Great Missenden, in February 2014 and after ‘working tirelessly’ on the project has now submitted planning and listed building applications to Chiltern District Council for the conversion of the pub and barn to five houses.
In April, villagers launched a campaign called Save the George to return the 500-year-old pub to its former use. The villagers are hoping to raise £2.5million to restore the pub.
However, Amplio says it is ‘saving The George’ and housing is the only viable use for the listed building.
James Stacpoole from Amplio said: “We’ve investigated all viable uses for the buildings and had extensive pre-application discussions with Historic England and Chiltern District Council and concluded that a residential scheme is the only viable use which will preserve these Grade II* listed buildings which are an important part of the heritage of Great Missenden.
“We, as many locals, are very concerned regarding the condition of these buildings. There are major structural problems with the barn in particular and it has taken time, much more time than we would have hoped, to complete the necessary research to get the project right.
“We believe the renovation of these important 15th century buildings and their conversion to houses will secure their future as an integral part of the community which is Great Missenden and hope that you will support us.”
Chairman of Mid-Chilterns Campaign for Real Ale Dave Badminton is supporting the Save the George campaign but thinks the project needs too much money for it to happen.
He added: “The George is worth saving because it’s a lovely old building and Great Missenden is running out of pubs, but I think it’ll be a struggle to get it saved as a pub because £2.5million is an excessive amount of money. It’s a shame.”
For more information on the application visit http://1drv.ms/1BJlVRY.
For more information on the Save the George campaign visit www.savethegeorge.co.uk.
What do you think? Email bucksnews@trinitysouth.co.uk.