THE owners of a pub near Maryport have been granted permission to convert the building into a residential house due to the owners' future plans to retire.

The Sun Inn, on Central Road, Dearham, has been given the go-ahead by Cumberland Council planners to undergo a change of use to a home after seven months on the market as a pub business has attracted ‘no offers of any nature', according to the design and access statement.

The statement says the owners and applicants, Mr and Mrs Wyer, placed the pub on the market in mid-March.

Frank Wyer, half of the husband-and-wife team that have run the Sun Inn for almost 21 years, said: "We are still trading successfully and always have been, and the reason the pub was for sale is to retire - when the time is right, but not yet."

The pub was listed for sale on a freehold basis for £320,000, and then £270,000.

The sales particulars state that the net sales for the business up to year-end March 2023 was £121,861.

Regarding market conditions, the statement says: “Despite appropriate and extensive marketing efforts, there have been no offers of any nature during this time.

“The marketing campaign included online listings with major platforms and property agencies, offering a prime opportunity for potential buyers to consider the premises.

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“The lack of offers further emphasizes the challenges faced by small independent pubs in this region and the broader market trends affecting the hospitality sector.

“Every effort has been made to market the premises appropriately, and its continued vacancy underscores the need for adaptive reuse to ensure the property remains an asset within the community.”

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No internal layout or external alterations are proposed other than the removal of commercial signage.

Outlining the vision for the proposal, the statement says: “The conversion of The Sun Inn aligns with the principles of sustainable development.

“This scheme aims to create a well-designed, sustainable residential dwelling that enhances the local area, providing much-needed housing while minimizing environmental impact.

“This proposal offers a unique opportunity to repurpose an underused building into a high-quality home, maintaining its character and integrating it into the surrounding community.”