Campaigners in South Walsham, Norfolk, are warning that plans to convert The Ship Inn into a residential property could “impact the vitality and prosperity” of their village. The 200-year-old pub, which closed in 2020, is at the centre of a local dispute over its future use.
The Wellington Pub Company, which owns The Ship Inn, has submitted an application to Broadland Council to change the building’s use from a pub to a home. The company’s agent insisted that “all reasonable efforts have been made to retain The Ship as a community facility,” but concluded that there was no realistic prospect of continuing its commercial or community function.
The pub, which features a small bar and a restaurant with seating for just 16, has struggled to remain viable, particularly following the Covid-19 lockdowns. A viability assessment by property valuer John Joseph Keane found that potential buyers were deterred by the building’s size and the challenge of maintaining a full kitchen with limited covers.
However, local campaigners formed the Save the Ship Inn Community Benefit Society Ltd in 2023, aiming to buy the building and reopen it as a pub and community hub. The group hoped to raise £250,000 and match that sum through the government’s Community Ownership Fund to purchase the venue. Unfortunately, the fund was scrapped last year, leaving the group unable to proceed.
The campaigners also argue that the pub’s asking price has been deliberately inflated. “Potential purchasers have undertaken assessments but concluded the price is too high to proceed,” they said. They warned that losing The Ship would further reduce South Walsham’s already limited amenities, undermining community cohesion.
Broadland Council’s planning report recommended approving the change of use, stating that there was “no policy reason” to refuse the application. The report cited the pub’s lack of viability and the absence of alternative commercial or community interest as key factors.
The proposal was scheduled for discussion at the council meeting on Wednesday, highlighting a clash between preserving a valued local institution and practical considerations about its ongoing viability.
