Plans to turn empty Essex pub into faith centre rejected

The application intended to change the use of The White Horse pub into a Multi-faith Centre
-Credit: (Image: Google Street View)


A fraught application to change a vacant pub into a Multi-faith Cultural Centre has ended, as committee members at Harlow Council have refused the plans. The application submitted on May 30 earlier this year has been refused after moving to a committee hearing.

The White Horse Pub, in Potter Street, Harlow, first built in 1848, was made vacant after it lost its licence in November 2020 following a police drugs raid. Since then, residents complained that it had become an attractive space for squatters and drug dealers to thrive.

Last year, Walsh Properties Investments Ltd had applied to knock down the existing building to make way for four homes, which was rejected as it was decided that removing the pub would undermine Harlow’s Local Development Plan.

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The latest application, which aimed to reuse the building as a faith centre, was refused after being taken to a committee because there was significant interest in both supporting and objecting the change to the use of the premises.

After assessing the proposed changes, Mr Mumin Ali’s application was refused as concerns were raised surrounding the capacity for parking on the site, as well as fears the noise levels would be a nuisance to the local residents.

The decision notice, refusing the application, flagged that a factor in the rejection was because of the continued parking concerns, in spite of changes that had been made to the plans in an attempt to provide more parking. The plans included eight parking bays, which was insufficient for the expected 100 weekly spaces needed for visitors at the centre.

The report claimed that “Due to the significant extent of overspill parking which would result from the intensity of the use and the inadequate amount of site parking, the proposal would result in extensive on-street parking which would significantly detract from the safety of all highways users in the area including pedestrian, cyclists and vehicles. It would cause a severe residual cumulative impact on highway congestion and movement.”

According to an earlier committee report, HDC Environmental Services objected to the change in site use. It claimed: “The building is flanked on three aspects by noise-sensitive properties. It is unknown if amplified music will be played during religious services at the property and if so, what mitigation measures will be put in place to ensure that amplified or acoustic sound does not interfere with the ordinary enjoyment of noise-sensitive properties.”

While the application was rejected on a local level, an appeal could be made to the Secretary of State in hopes of overturning the decision.