Villagers' blueprint to save Shropshire pub
Work has started on a villager-led scheme to restore a derelict pub in Shropshire – believed to be the first of its kind anywhere in the country.
People who live in Neenton, near Ludlow, have teamed up with South Shropshire Housing Association, part of Shropshire Housing Group, to draw up a blueprint for the restoration of The Pheasant Inn.
It will see SSHA build seven homes in Neenton to sell on the open market, with the profits used to help support the re-opening of the pub, which has been unoccupied since 2006. It will then be run by Neenton Community Society, a group of volunteers.
A total of seven new homes – two four-bedroom detached, three five-bedroom detached and two three-bedroom homes – will be built. The two three-bedroom homes will be classed as affordable housing and will be made available to the community by SSHA under a shared ownership deal.
Paul Sutton, executive director for assets and development at SSHA, said: "The model is thought to be unique in the UK and has even provided the genesis of a new home building brand for us, which will look to generate profits from such developments to support even more social homes and communities as funds from central government become increasingly stretched.
"Getting to the point where we have been able to begin construction has been hard but very worthwhile work which began back in 2011. It has had to be a team effort between the community, the council and ourselves to come up with a truly innovative way to cover the costs of restoring The Pheasant Inn for everyone's benefit.
"When the restoration is completed it can once again be at the heart of this small community and a focal point for many activities and general socialising.
"At the same time we will have created homes which complement the existing properties in the village and that allow young families to stay in their communities.
"With shared ownership options, we can even help them to get a foot on the rungs of the housing ladder. As far as we know this is the only scheme of its kind in the UK so far."
John Pickup, from Neenton Community Society, said: "The vision, commitment and willingness to explore innovative ideas to help our community regenerate that Shropshire Housing Group have shown has been quite remarkable and sustained throughout.
"Now we are re-establishing some community facilities in the village, the last of which disappeared when the pub closed.
"The new houses will help build critical mass and become more sustainable as a community."
