Shropshire pub reopens as new heart of village life
Many more pubs may be closing than opening across Shropshire - but one has been reopened after a £750,000 investment not only to serve customers but also to form the cornerstone of a new community hub.
The Pheasant at Neenton, near Bridgnorth, had been unoccupied since 2006 but its renovation has been a launch pad for a whole community of new homes.
Shropshire Housing Group is in the process of building seven new houses around the pub.
The renovation saw The Pheasant become a community asset and part of the Neenton Community Society.
Residential developments in Shropshire are usually liable for Community Infrastructure Levy payments - money that is used to support and improve the infrastructure of the surrounding area.
But relief from CIL money can sometimes by granted when a development can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
Following discussions between Shropshire Council, Neenton Community Society and Shropshire Housing Group, CIL money for the Neenton housing project was used to renovate The Pheasant.
Villagers also bought shares in the pub, which was further aided by grant funding.
Bobbie Jarvis, a director for the society, said The Pheasant had been closed for nine years and left semi-derelict for half that time before being restored, expanded and reopened.
She said: "It's re-opening not only brings a social hub back to a village that no longer had any public facilities, it has launched a community-owned enterprise that is bringing much-needed jobs and visitor income to this beautiful part of Shropshire.
"The Pheasant aims to offer superb Shropshire food in a real country local, now owned and restored by the community.
"It's been very well received by customers both local and those who drive out from other parts of the Midlands.
"Customers come to sample the Pheasant from as far away as Stoke, Birmingham and Worcester. Three letting bedrooms will open in spring to help boost tourism in the area."
The reopening of The Pheasant was the culmination of four years work spearheaded by Neenton Community Society, a charitable Community Benefit Society.
The pub is now being run under the management of Jane Cowley and Mark Harris, who previously ran the Hadley Hotel.
After seeing The Pheasant advertised they decided to give the new venture a go and officially opened on November 15.
Most of their staff live within a two to three mile radius of the pub.
The work was only possible thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration with Shropshire Housing Group and imaginative use of community rights thinking, strongly supported by Shropshire Council, to deliver more than half of the £750,000 funding required from building new homes using part of the pub land.
"Communities elsewhere can look to use this model to fund their own development plans and aspirations," said Mr Jarvis.
"The housing development provides seven new homes, including two affordable houses, which will be available through shared ownership.
"It's remarkable in that an increase in local housing stock of 15 per cent is being achieved on a greenfield site in a conservation area as a warmly welcomed improvement without a single objection from anyone throughout the planning process."
"It was Shropshire Councillor Robert Tindall who was able initially to bring all the parties together.
"He encourages all those involved during the long process this innovative project could be delivered to turn around the decline of recent years to the benefit of everyone concerned."
