A second planning application has been submitted to convert a former St Neots pub into a home.

In June, Huntingdonshire District Council blocked a planning application to convert the Millers Arms in Eaton Socon, St Neots, into a new home. 

The refusal was based on the council committee's belief that not enough proof had been put forward to show that no one wanted to continue running the pub.

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However, the Millers Arms could still become a home, as the applicant has submitted a second planning application after the refusal.

The plan remains largely unchanged from the original application. The applicant, AP15 Investments, wants to convert the old pub into a three bedroom house.

The pub has been vacant since November 2022 and has failed to attract a new landlord.

The application contains a Viability Letter written by property consultants, Bruton Knowles. In it, it touches on the pub's failure to reopen, citing difficult times for pubs across the country.

It states: "Over the course of the last few years public houses have experienced extremely difficult trading conditions.

"Some factors include the smoking ban in pubs in 2007; Covid 19; aggressive discounting by supermarkets; increasing beer duty; rising business rates; the advent of social media and online communication, and the impact of current economic conditions."

The consultants concluded that the Millers Arms would not be a viable pub to run. 

The letter reads: "Indeed, from the length of time the Millers Arms has been closed it is likely that previous customers have now established themselves in the alternative local pubs.

"Should the Millers Arms reopen it would have a detrimental effect on the trade of these pubs leading to all of them struggling to make a living."

Huntingdonshire District Council have set an internal decision target date of September 13.