A CHARD pub shut after the Covid pandemic and “subsequent poor sales” will be turned into a guesthouse.

A planning application to turn The Golden Fleece on Perry Street into a guesthouse has recently been approved.

The officer report document on the planning application read: “The existing public house has been shut since 2020 following the pandemic and subsequent poor sales.

“The site comprises a former public house that has recently been used as a guest house. It is a two-storey building that fronts the B3167 (Perry Street) and is one of a handful of buildings.”

The number of rooms contained within the guesthouse “shall be restricted to no more than five”.

The officer report on the planning application said: “The application seeks permission to retain the use of the building as a guesthouse and dispose of the Public House use. There are no internal or external changes proposed.

“The property has been marketed with Stonesmith Property Agents for 16 months details are included with the application pack. If needs be further information can be provided regarding the marketing of the site.

“The pub was not sold and in fact, no offers were made on the property despite some initial interest. 22 viewing appointments for interested parties were arranged, however, unfortunately, Stonesmith did not receive any offers from interested parties or viewers.

“The feedback received from viewers was that they were concerned about the trading potential and viability of the business as a pub, especially given the remote location and the amount of competition from other pubs and sports clubs in the immediate and surrounding areas.”

The document also explained the application was approved as “the proposal respects the character of the area and causes no demonstrable harm to residential amenity or highway safety.

“The proposal also retains a commercial facility and would support local tourism. The development is therefore in accordance with the aims and objectives of relevant policies contained within the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-28) and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.”