A once-popular village pub could be bulldozed to make way for five new homes after problems were found with the condition of the building.

Stephen Bonehill, of Penkridge-based R Bonehill (Builders and Contractors), already had permission to convert the Burnt Gate Inn, in Hopley Road, Anslow, into a home, but when the building was stripped ready for refurbishment, problems were found with the roof, floors and foundations. The application also included building two houses on the site.

It means a new application has now been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council to demolish the pub and build three detached homes in its place, as well as a double garage and access. A decision on the plan has yet to be made by the authority.

If the new plan is approved by the council it would see the car parking on the site reduced from 36 spaces to 10 car spaces. The site includes the current approved development with additional land at the rear of the pub, including two small buildings.

A report to the council said: "The buildings are derelict/redundant and the location of the access is unsuitable/dangerous due to restricted visibility and manoeuvring space to turn onto Hopley Road.

The Burnt Gate, Anslow
The former pub has sat derelict for a few years but is now in the hands of developers. They have been given permission to develop on the site but are still waiting the go ahead to demolish the former pub.
The former pub's car park

"In accordance with the current approvals the single-storey sections of the pub have been demolished and the internal ground floors removed and areas stripped for refurbishment. This work has exposed problems with the condition of the structure such the roof, floors and foundations."

A first application approved for the site was for one detached home and the conversion of the pub into a house.

Then a second application, which was approved earlier this year, was to demolish the existing single-storey extensions to allow the conversion of existing pub into one house, including an attached garage and two detached homes.

Before its closure in July last year, The Burnt Gate was inspected by the borough council which found that the venue merited a food hygiene rating of five stars – the highest mark possible.

The Burnt Gate, Anslow
The former pub has sat derelict for a few years but is now in the hands of developers. They have been given permission to develop on the site but are still waiting the go ahead to demolish the former pub.
The side entrance to the former pub

Marie Stevens, who was owner and licensee of the pub until its closure, left the business after 21 years and felt it was time to move on. She had hoped to sell it as a pub before she left but was unsuccessful, and finally the pub was sold to Mr Bonehill. She now works as a freelance cooking and food consultant, as well as holding cookery demonstrations.

Travel website Trip Advisor then announced that the pub had been selected to receive its certificate of excellence.

UK pubs are closing at a rate of 27 a week, according to real ale group Camra. There were 52,750 pubs at the end of last year, down from 54,194 in December 2014, said a spokesman.

History of The Burnt Gate

Parts of the building are around 300 years old and some around 125 years old.

The name is unusual and is thought to be the only Burnt Gate, not only in Britain but very possibly the world.

The Burnt Gate was originally made up of two cottages and a farmhouse. It is believed that opposite the pub there was a forest many years ago with a tollgate. It was known as the Brent Wood.

It was burnt down, together with a tollgate, to make way for arable land. Hence the pub became known as the Burnt Gate.

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