Community Group Considers Abandoning Pub Acquisition Plans

Efforts by a community organization, The Henry Jenkins Group, to acquire and revive a disused pub, a project spanning eight years, are now at risk of being discontinued. The group had secured a £330,000 grant from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, intended to facilitate the purchase of the Henry Jenkins inn located in Kirkby Malzeard, a village situated near Ripon. Nevertheless, their initiative has encountered an obstacle, jeopardizing the allocated funds, as the current owner of the pub has declined to sell the property at a valuation the group considers fair. The proprietor has stated his conviction that the Henry Jenkins is not a viable business due to the presence of multiple other pubs in the vicinity. Richard Sadler, who chairs the group, reported that eight proposals for the property had been turned down and expressed apprehension regarding its worsening state. Mr Sadler further elaborated, stating, “The woodwork on the windows is rotten, round the back the roof is starting to collapse”. Mr. Sadler indicated that over £200,000 had been raised through “pledges” from local residents who acquired shares designated for the pub’s restoration and upgrading. He also noted that, notwithstanding the stalemate with the pub’s owner, David Fielder, the group’s objective enjoys a “huge amount” of backing within the village. Mr. Fielder, who manages 18 additional pubs throughout Yorkshire, acquired the Henry Jenkins in 2011. He expressed a preference for selling it as a pub, but stated his conviction that it was no longer sustainable as licensed premises. He encountered difficulties in securing a tenant to operate the establishment, reporting that potential licensees informed him they doubted Kirkby Malzeard, with its population of 900, could sustain four pubs. Consequently, he has submitted multiple planning applications to transform the structure into residential units, all of which have been denied. He commented: “I’m not a developer. I’ve owned pubs since 1987. We are not into asset stripping and I don’t believe that many people that buy pubs are.” North Yorkshire Council has since consented to serve as a mediator between the community group and Mr. Fielder, aiming to facilitate a resolution. This disagreement has highlighted what Mr. Sadler described as a broader issue concerning the inadequate legal safeguards for pubs against redevelopment. Members of The Henry Jenkins Group are advocating for the government to revise planning legislation to prevent developers from “land banking” pubs that retain the potential for successful operation. Earlier in the current year, the government introduced a proposal for a community “right to buy” provision for pubs, integrated into the forthcoming English Devolution Bill. Mr. Sadler acknowledged the new legislation as a positive development but suggested it might not be comprehensive enough. He stated: “What we are seeing is speculative developers buying up old pubs because of their value potentially as housing.“There needs to be some sort of obligation placed on owners of pubs to accept a valuation that would be done by an independent valuer, and only then would you stop this kind of thing happening.” The advocacy group has formally communicated with Alex Norris, the recently appointed housing and communities minister, urging immediate measures to address deficiencies within the planning framework. A representative from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government affirmed that the English Devolution Bill is designed to grant individuals “real power to take ownership of these assets” and that further specifics would be disclosed at a later time.