A DEVELOPER has failed in his second bid to knock down a historic Deane pub to make way for new houses, apartments and shops.

Mubarak Patel, of Mercury Forecourts, wanted to demolish the old Stags Head pub in Junction Road, so he could build 32 one-bedroom apartments, eight town houses and retail units. After failing to get planning permission in February, he applied again — but his second application was rejected last week.

Council planning officer Helen Williams said in a report that the pub, built in the mid-19th century, is listed as a building of “special architectural or historic interest” within the Deane conser-vation area.

She added: “The applicant does not appear to have considered the potential re-use of the Stags Head building before proposing the re-development scheme.

“They instead refer to the physical condition of the building and the more contemporary extensions as the justification to why the building should be demolished.

“This justification has not been supported by any evidence and no consideration has been made to why the less aesthetic extensions could not be lost, or the building more sympathetically extended.

“It is therefore considered the loss of the building would be to the detriment of the character, appearance and history of Deane Village Conservation Area.”

Mr Patel can appeal.