A FRESH attempt has been made to secure planning permission for the redevelopment of GreathamÕs two redundant pubs in a bid to overcome earlier criticisms.

Camparo Ltd has resubmitted to East Hampshire District Council their planning application for the demolition of the Silver Birch Inn and the rear garden of Witham House to create 14 new homes with garages.

A second plan application for the development of part of The Queens public house car park to create a terrace of four dwellings.

In return for permission the developer will pay for the refurbishment of The Queens and open the pub for a year after which its future will depend upon its its own success.

The two proposals are exactly the same as those granted planning permission on appeal in August this year. However the approved plans are the subject of a legal challenge.

As previously reported by The Herald, three of the villageÕs residents, including parish councillor Donald Jerrard, have launched a legal bid to get the inquiry into the appeal scrutinised.

EHDC originally refused to grant planning permission for the redevelopment but the applicants overturned that decision after successfully appealing to the Planning Inspectorate.

In their legal challenge, the residents claim that some of the procedures of the Planning Inspectorate were at fault. EHDC has also been criticised over access to information issues.

The purpose of the resubmissions is not stated in the application documents but it is thought that the applicant wants to secure fresh permission, taking into account the criticisms of residents, to prove that allowing the redevelopment is the right decision.

If it succeeds, then the new permission would be free from the criticisms levelled at the existing permission and used as evidence to fight the legal challenge.

A statement from EHDC said that whatever the motive for the resubmission, it had a duty to make a decision on the application on its merits and take into account the inspectorÕs decision.

It said: ÒThe council is required to consider the applications on their merits and the findings of the inspector on planning grounds will be a key factor in the reconsideration of the proposals.Ó

Public consultation on the plans has already got underway, with two letters objecting to the plans already submitted.

Anyone wishing to write to EHDC about the two applications should send in their views by November 26.

EHDCÕs south planning committee is expected to debate the plans on December 4.