Burnt-out Wendover pub could become homes

Plans show seven new houses on the site of The Village Gate.

Author: Dan GoodingPublished 21st Sep 2020

After it burned down last year, a pub on the edge of Wendover could be replaced with new homes.

A planning application shows seven new houses where the shell of the Village Gate stands.

It says the damage means the building is unusable and it wouldn't make business sense to build another pub.

What happened at The Village Gate?

The building was severely damaged in the fire in 2019

In August 2019, a fire broke out at the pub on the edge of Wendover.

Several fire crews tried to save the building, but were unsuccessful.

Since then, it has sat empty and partially-demolished.

The application to build seven houses says that rebuilding a pub or restaurant here just wouldn't make sense anymore:

"Businesses such as the one previously run at the Village Gate have been unable to compete in the current market due to the lack of wet trade (an area of the trade which is in decline) and only limited food offering resulting in a low turnover business, but with significant staffing and fuel costs.

"In light of the above, it would take a leap of faith from an operator to reposition the offering of the property to create and incorporate a viable food and beverage service."

Developers say the new homes would reuse a brownfield site, so not encroach on green space, and would improve the area after the burnt-out building has sat there for over a year.

Buckinghamshire Council should make a decision by the middle of December.