Businesses in a York village will suffer due to the conversion of an empty pub there, an objector has claimed.
The Murton Arms, in Moor Lane, Murton, is set to be converted into a café and a flat after being shut for eight years, under plans approved by City of York Council.
Directions Planning Consultancy, acting on behalf of applicants Mr and Mrs Armitage, said it would see the building brought back into use to provide a much-needed community asset.
But the Yorkshire Barn Café, in the nearby Murton Park, said allowing another hospitality business in the area would be detrimental to existing ones struggling with rising costs.
Council planning officers’ approval of the conversion comes after plans were lodged in January.
The application stated no interest was shown in reopening the pub while it was on the market between November 2024 and December last year.
It added the only interest had come from those who wanted to turn it into either a café or restaurant.
The plans come after the pub, which previously traded as The Bay Horse and under various other names historically, first closed at the start of 2017.
It reopened briefly that August before closing again the following January after struggling to attract enough customers to be viable.
Plans approved by council officers are set to see the building’s ground floor turned into a café and the first floor turned into a three-bedroom apartment.
Officers recommended approving the plans and they were backed by Restore ward councillor Mark Warters and York Civic Trust.
But the Yorkshire Barn Café said there was already three similar businesses trading in the area and questioned whether the café could be a building for the community.
They said: “The hospitality industry is struggling with rising costs and fewer customers.
“Allowing a café in a rural area would be detrimental to other business.”
The Campaign For Pubs also objected, saying the conversion would result in the loss of a unique resource and that evidence the pub was not financially viable was lacking.
Applicants stated a viable use was needed to stop the building, which dates from the late 18th century, from deteriorating further.
Plans stated: “There are very few facilities within Murton to serve the community, there is no shop, library, post office, village hall or youth group.
“A café in this location would share the main characteristics of a local pub, offering a place in which to socialise.
“It would undoubtedly provide an equivalent community facility to be used predominantly by the local Murton community to meet their day-to-day needs.”
Council planning officers ruled the conversion would not harm the area or result in the loss of a community asset.
