With the help of local community groups, businesses, customers and previous tenants – Friends of The Plungington Hotel submitted a detailed application to have the pub listed as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ (ACV) in May 2021.

The status has now been approved by Preston City Council.

Tamar Reay from Preston Council said: “Having considered in detail the nomination and representations made by Council Officers, a decision was taken to list the asset as it was felt that the nomination meets the legislative criteria as set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011 and the Asset of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012, namely that the principal use of the Plungington Hotel furthered the community’s social wellbeing and/or social interests and is likely to do so in the future.”

Read more: Derby Lodge residents join fight to keep The Plungington Hotel open

The ACV status gives the community the ‘Right To Bid’ on the site.

That means that before any sale can be completed, the community must be notified and given 6 months to raise the funds to purchase the site if the bid is accepted.

Furthermore, now that the Council has approved the status and confirmed that ‘the principal use of the Plungington Hotel furthered the community’s social wellbeing’ so any Planning Applications that include a ‘Change Of Use’ would become more difficult to have approved.

Read more: The Plungington Hotel is reopening

Friends of The Plungington Hotel hope that this status is the first step in securing the future of The Plungington Hotel for many generations to come.

The pub has recently reopened under the management of Winwick Taverns, with previous owner Admiral Taverns still owning the building.

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Are you happy that the Plungington Hotel has been granted Asset of Community Value status? Let us know in the comments below.