Planning officers have refused to grant permission for changes to a vacant pub in High Wycombe.

A plan by Hillcrest Capital London to create three flats by converting the upper floors of the Masons Arms on Saffron Road was approved by Buckinghamshire Council in June 2023.

However, Duka Holdings submitted a new application in May of this year requesting permission for what it called ‘non-material amendments’ to the planning permission.

These included amending the access to the approved flats to the rear of the site, relocating the cycle store and retaining refuse storage as per the approved plans.

But planning officers said the new position of the cycle store would be outside of the approved application area and ‘would materially impact the private amenity space’.

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In their notice of refusal, they said: “As such, the proposed alterations would have a material impact upon the appearance, design and character of the approved scheme.

“Hence, the nature of the proposed changes cannot be considered under a non-material minor amendment application and a planning application is required.”

The approved plans for the flats stated that there would be two on the first floor and one on the second floor.

Each apartment would have an open plan living, dining and kitchen area and a bathroom, according to the original application.

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