A WELL-known pub has lodged plans for a new outdoor drinking area.

The Brown Cow, Bingley, has submitted a proposal to demolish a pair of semi-detached houses to create the new area.

The application says: “The pub itself already enjoys an outdoor drinking area but it is limited in size and located in an area that receives little direct sunshine and is not well‐used by customers.

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“The proposal is to form a separate and larger outdoor area on the site of the demolished houses, which would provide an attractive setting close to the river for pub customers.”

It adds: “Both the pub itself, and the rental houses, have been prone to flooding in the past due to their proximity to the river.

“The most recent of these floods was on Boxing Day 2015 when the flood water level in the pub and in the houses rose to 1.5 metres above floor level.

“This resulted in the pub being closed for several weeks; the houses were vacated and have remained unoccupied ever since.

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“Subsequently, flood defence and resilience works were implemented for the pub, however it was deemed impractical to provide similar measures for the houses due to their construction, which includes suspended timber floors and associated air bricks for sub‐floor ventilation.

“The houses were deemed at high risk of future flooding, and insurance cover has proved difficult, if not impossible to obtain.

“The houses have therefore remained unoccupied and uninhabitable, and with no realistic possibility of being brought back into use they are likely to fall into further disrepair.”

Even if it were feasible, it would not be in the public interest to bring the buildings back into use because: there are concerns for the safety and well-being of occupants, due to the high risk of flooding and potential flood water levels" - Planning application heritage statement 

A heritage statement submitted as part of the application adds: “The buildings cannot be insured and there is no reasonable likelihood of them being brought back into a beneficial, active and viable use.

“If retained, since investment in maintenance cannot be justified, their condition will sadly continue to deteriorate until they make a negative contribution towards Bingley Conservation Area and the setting of Ireland Bridge and/ or become dangerous.

“The continued long-term deterioration of the buildings is not in the public interest.”

It adds: “Even if it were feasible, it would not be in the public interest to bring the buildings back into use because: there are concerns for the safety and well-being of occupants, due to the high risk of flooding and potential flood water levels.

“It should be noted that planning policy would not permit new-build development in this location, due in part to these concerns and that past flooding has had significant emotional impacts upon occupants.

“The buildings cannot be made appropriately flood resistant and resilient to facilitate quick and economic recovery from flooding due to the buildings’ construction and the potential height of flood waters, which significantly exceed the maximum height of electrical switches and sockets at 1.2m. Successive future renovations following flooding would not be environmentally or financially sustainable.”

A determination deadline has been set for Tuesday, October 8.