An application to build nine houses alongside a historic, 19th century Powys pub, has been withdrawn by its planners.

On February 9, an application for planning permission to erect nine houses at The Four Crosses Inn, in Four Crosses, became the latest in a number of proposals concerning the 19th century pub to falter as the application was withdrawn.

The proposal was first submitted in September 2023, adding to an already approved application that sought to turn the pub itself into three homes which was granted planning permission in 2019.

The 2023 application was put forward by Hughes Architects, on behalf of Eaglescourt Development Limited and proposed that aside from changing the current building into three new homes, it also intended to turn the surrounding car park and land into multiple two, three and four-bedroom homes.

In regards to the potential nine new houses, they argued that “the public house has been disused for some time” and was “in decline for some time” before ceasing trading in 2014.

They added: “We will seek to demonstrate that it provides a proportionate and deliberate development opportunity for housing in a large village location with excellent links to both the local community and nearby towns and villages.”

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While it is unclear why the application has been withdrawn, Powys Highways and Natural Resources Wales expressed “concerns” regarding the proposal in their consultee comments, with the Highways Authority citing the layout for recycling storage, loss of one parking bay per dwelling and lack of connectivity with existing footways.

Simon Crew, Powys Highways Development Officer, said: “The site layout proposes to further reduce the width of the already narrow access by constructing shelving for residents to store recycling boxes awaiting collection.

“Such an arrangement would result in an unacceptable risk to recycling/waste collection staff but also that of the residents. Furthermore, council operatives would be required to collect and replace wheeled bins along the same narrow shared surface.

“Council staff and/or residents using the collection point would likely result in vehicles stacking on the County Highway whilst waiting to access the site, especially as the Refuse Collection Vehicle shall be parked at the site access.”

Natural Resources Wales also raised concerns with the application, requesting that conditions such as an Amphibian Conservation Plan and Biosecurity Risk Assessment be attached before they could consider granting planning permission.