Councillors make 'common sense' decision to turn 170-year-old riverside pub into housing

Developers applied to turn the Crown Inn in Paull into three affordable homes with the space downstairs for commercial, business and community uses.

The parish council and residents back the plans, which include a terrace of six three-storey homes.

One of the main obstacles was the Environment Agency designating the area at high risk of flooding - despite new £5.2m defences, consisting of a wall, raised embankment and 2,700 tonnes of rock armour, being completed by East Riding Council four years ago.

It came after a tidal surge caused flooding along the Humber in December 2013.

A sub-committee approved the pub plans on September 5, against officers' recommendations. On Thursday the matter came before the main planning committee, which voted nine to two to approve the proposals.

Ward councillor Sue Steel said: “Despite the installation of a protective glass wall at huge expense to the council the Environment Agency did not change its flood risk classification.

"It ignores any measures taken to reduce the flood risk however effective they have proved to be.

"Paull is a small historic village, and it’s at risk of dying out as young people are forced elsewhere for accommodation.”

Coun Nigel Wilkinson said: "Are we really saying that flooding will come to over 3m high? That's what we are talking about with second floor living.

"I don't think we should be slavishly following what the consultees say in this particular case.”However the committee's chair Gary McMaster said he couldn’t put his name to plans knowing that the homes would be in high risk flood zone.

He added: I’m not comfortable putting my signature on a property where someone is going to live.”

But Coun David Rudd said there were other properties in the area “which no doubt would be flooded that have been there for years. The community benefits are good.

"It’s a shame a lot of our villages are not allowed to expand with new properties.”The Crown, which opened in 1856, was originally due to be demolished. But the current scheme retains the building, with “modest” additions replacing more modern extensions. The Campaign for Real Ale previously objected to the loss of the pub.