A fresh submission has been made to transform a rural tavern into a four-bedroom residence.
The updated proposal for The Gardeners Arms in Sompting has removed the roof extensions that were previously turned down and features a professional evaluation stating the enterprise cannot survive.
Adur District Council rejected an earlier application for the use change last November, determining there was inadequate proof the West Street establishment could no longer continue trading and the proposed roof extension would damage the building’s character.
The revised scheme has abandoned loft conversion plans, instead suggesting repurposing the current layout through internal modifications.
The site’s parking area would be converted into a private garden, with three parking spots established on the road.
The fresh application is also backed by an economic assessment from a licensed property specialist company, which indicates the pub would require £200,000 of investment to reopen.
The assessment notes the pub had been marketed through property agents for 34 months, yet a new operator could not be secured.
Planning documents also reveal a recent effort by residents to list the pub as an Asset of Community Value was dropped in January.
The Gardeners Arms first shut its doors in August 2022 and operated under short-term temporary arrangements until the freehold was purchased in August 2025.
Initial conversion plans faced opposition from locals, who described the venue as “invaluable” and pointed to the closures of other Sompting establishments including The Ball Tree, The Marquis of Granby and The Joyful Whippet.
Adur District Councillor Steve Neocleous also previously stated he would be “really disappointed to see the last remaining pub in Sompting disappear,” noting that the construction of hundreds of homes near the venue made the location “perfect for a village pub to thrive”.
However, the new planning statement contends the venue has been unable to attract custom from other closures, stating: “The level of trade and community support has simply been too low to sustain the business.”
A ruling on the proposals is expected by June 9.