Appeal over Wivenhoe Flag Inn's seating plans after refusal

The Flag Inn, on Colchester Road, wanted a new oak-framed timber structure to create an additional seating area.

The application was refused in September by Colchester Council who said the proposed wooden orangery – a greenhouse type structure – would be an “incongruous and unsympathetic" addition to the existing pub.

The council said the proposed structure would be an “overdevelopment of an already much-developed site” and that the proposal “fails to represent a high quality of design”.

Council policy says the historic environment should be protected and enhanced even if it does not have listed building status.

The Flag Inn, which is believed to date from the middle of the 18th Century, is a ‘locally listed building’, meaning it is of particular importance to the area but not have official designation.

The appeal said the application was refused on one single ground – its impact on historic character.

The main grounds of challenge to the decision were that the proposal would have significant economic and social benefits meaning “further reinvestment and conservation” into the pub, which would outweigh “any perceived harm”.

Another challenge is that the proposed orangery would be a ”high quality design” with “positive” character.

The statement added: “The Flag, over the years, has evolved to such an extent that it no longer bears any resemblance to the original structure which was developed in or around the 18th Century”.

Opening - The Flag Inn's re-opening in 2022 after their £1m revamp (Image: Steve Brading)

The Flag Inn was revamped in 2022 at a cost of £1million with the creation of ten bed and breakfast rooms being approved by the council a year before.

Changes also included a new wide-ranging menu with the owner William Grinsted saying that despite the significant refurbishment, that the pub had retained its “historic charm” despite a “fresh and high-end new look”.