A WELL-LOVED historic pub has been saved from being turned into housing.

As previously reported, The Bell pub in Odiham, which was originally licensed in 1509 and is one of the oldest pubs in Hampshire, was sold to Carlin Capital when the previous owners retired.

The pub was up for sale for more than two years but with no buyers, developers asked Hart District Council for planning permission to convert the pub into three houses

READ MORE: The Bell, Odiham: Residents rally round to save inn from being turned into housing

During a Hart District Council planning committee meeting held Wednesday, December 14, the application was refused.

Cllr Helen Tyler, who has been leading a campaign to save the pub, said it is like getting 'an early Christmas present.

She said: "I feel rather relieved. I was genuinely anxious that the history book of 500 years of English traditions such as Morris Dancing, Mummers Plays and drinking at The Bell would close on our watch. If the applications had been approved we would permanently and irrevocably lost a valued community asset and social venue.

"It's great to see democracy at work and witness the power of people. Hundreds of residents in Odiham have backed the campaign, along with the Odiham Parish Council, the Odiham Society, and our Hampshire County councillor. Now the applications for change of use have been rejected, we hope to buy, repair and renovate the pub to allow members of the public to continue to enjoy this wonderful historic social hub for the next 500 years."

The property is currently advertised for sale on Carlin Capital's website for offers starting at £500,000.

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Cllr Tyler added: "We hope to enter discussions regarding buying the pub back in January. However, the owner is not obliged to sell the pub to us. He could appeal the planning decision, in which case we would fight the appeal as we believe the proposed change of use would cause permanent loss of asset of community value and substantial harm to an heritage asset in a conservation area.

"These harms significantly outweigh the small benefit of three additional residential dwellings in Odiham. Alternatively, the owner could sell the pub to another party who could then repair it, renovate it and run it as a pub."

Carlin Capital has been contacted for a comment.