THE Fleece pub in Addingham has failed in its bid to secure planning permission for a canopy outside the historic pub.

The canopy, which covers the seating terrace on the barn section of the listed building, was installed in April 2022 but Bradford Council said that it needed planning permission, which was subsequently refused.

The pub’s owners appealed against the decision, but the Planning Inspectorate has now come down on the side of the local authority and dismissed the appeal saying the canopy is not in keeping with the location, designated a Conservation Area.

Planning Inspector Sarah Manchester said in her report the canopy was a “conspicuous, inauthentic and alien” addition to the building.

She said: “The canopy covers nearly the entire terraced seating area to the front of the attached barn. Its large scale, peaked design, height and proximity to the listed building (LB) are such that it obscures the barn’s front elevation.

“Although the open-sided design allows views through the structure from some perspectives, parts of the LB beneath the canopy are nevertheless shrouded in deep shade and visually diminished as a result.

“As a result, this highly distracting addition significantly erodes the simple vernacular form, features and materials of the LB.”

The report says that the pub’s owners argued that the canopy would enable the outside area to be used for dining around the year and that it would help to retain jobs.

However, the inspector wrote: "The external seating area has been in use for many years. The canopy would enable its use for a greater proportion of the year and during more inclement weather than the pre-existing umbrellas.

“However, there is little information about the number of internal or external covers or dining occupancy rates through the year.

“The additional contribution to the business resulting from the fixed canopy, compared to the former adjustable table umbrellas, has not been quantified. Consequently, while increased dining would no doubt contribute to profitability, it has not been robustly demonstrated that the canopy is essential for the continued viable operation of the premises.

“I note the suggestion that the retention of the canopy would help retain jobs and support the local economy. However, the application forms indicate that the number of staff employed by the existing premises and the proposal would be the same.”

She concluded: “In the absence of any substantiated public benefit, I conclude that, on balance, the proposal would fail to preserve the special interest of the Grade II listed building and it would not conserve or enhance the character or appearance of Addingham Conservation Area.”

The Oakman Group who own the pub have been contacted for comment.