An Oldham pub has lost an appeal to keep its  beer garden extension.

The Roebuck Inn on Brighton Road in Strinesdale submitted a retrospective planning application for an extension to its beer garden and play area in September 2022, after the beer garden was created in a bid to “meet increased demand from customers”.

Despite dozens of people expressing their support for the beer garden, the application was rejected,  by the council's planning bosses, which led the pub to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

The application was originally rejected by the council due to the fact the site sits on the Green Belt and would affect the openness of it.

Residents who live near the pub had taken issue with the extension due to the fact they felt they had lost privacy, it was not in keeping with the area and there has been an increase in noise.

In a report prepared by the Planning Inspectorate following the Roebuck Inn's appeal, the inspector, named as R Major, said that the beer garden affected the openness of the Green Belt and that was inappropriate.

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The inspector said the new beer garden measured 80 square metres, meaning the Roebuck Inn's footprint had extended by four per cent, which "reduced the openness of the site and resulted in encroachment into the countryside".

The Roebuck Inn developed the beer garden during the Covid pandemic using funds granted through the use of a government loan to enhance the outside dining experience, and to allow for more people to eat out during this period.

The inspector said they were "sympathetic" to the impacts of the pandemic on food and drink establishments, however they felt there is no longer a requirement for customers to eat outside and therefore the need and benefits of the beer garden had diminished.

However, the inspector felt the play area did not affect the openness of the Green Belt and did not consider it inappropriate, although the fencing erected by the pub was ordered to be taken down as it had caused a loss of Green Belt openness.