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A DERELICT Grade II listed pub in Checkendon is set to be converted into housing following a string of failed bids.

The Four Horseshoes in Main Street, formerly owned by Henley pub operator Brakspear, has been empty since 2013.

Caversham-based property developer Big Tots, owned by Stuart Bartlett, has been granted planning permission to turn the pub into a house and build a new one-and-a-half-storey house next to it along with a carport.

The pub building dates back to the late 15th century or early 16th century and features extensions from the late 17th century and early 19th century.

Brakspear, which sold the pub in January 2022, was previously granted permission to change the use of the building to residential in 2019.

The year before the sale, the pub company had an application to build two three-bedroom houses refused by South Oxfordshire District Council.

Then, in June 2023, Jazza58, which is also owned by Mr Bartlett, was granted listed building consent for the conversion of the site into two houses but planning permission for the scheme was refused.

The planning authority argued the scheme would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Checkendon conservation area.

Now the developer has had a scheme to create two four-bedroom homes on the site approved along with listed building consent.

Residents in Checkendon have previously opposed bids to convert the former pub and about 10 objected to the latest planning application along with the parish council.

But in the decision notice, head of planning Adrian Duffield said: “The planning application would not result in the loss of an essential community facility and would be in accordance with the council’s housing distribution strategy. While the proposed development would result in less than substantial harm to the setting of the Grade II listed building and the character and appearance of the site within the Checkendon conservation area, this would be at the lower end of the scale and outweighed by the public benefits.

“It would also not result in any significant loss of residential amenity and would provide sufficient indoor and outdoor amenity space for future occupiers.”

In the application’s design and access statement, agent STL Architecture said the house had been designed with its surrounding site in mind.

It said: “The one-and-a-half storey, four-bedroom property is designed in a traditional cottage style and draws its design theme from the adjoining Checkendon conservation area.”

On behalf of Checkendon Parish Council, Cllr Tim Corbishley previously said he “strongly opposed” the application.

He wrote: “This is a new building among a cluster of historic buildings within the village centre. The view along the village street has remained unaltered for many hundreds of years and features in much literature.”

A number of residents also submitted objections, with many noting what they saw as similarities between the scheme and the previous application that was rejected in 2023.

Resident Charles Waggett said the scheme appeared to be a “maximisation of square footage” and did not “materially alter” the application that had preceded it.

Toby Greenbury, of Checkendon Equestrian Centre, said he was concerned about the impact of the dwelling on the village centre, which he said was “one of the most attractive aspects of Checkendon”.

A few residents said they supported the new application. Anna and Richard Cuthbertson said it was “far superior in every respect to previous ones”.

They said the architectural design of both properties “blends in well with the surrounding area” and approved of the landscaping and “general greening” of the whole site.