Plans to convert a former pub building into a home have been objected to by a national pub campaign group.
An application for The Wheatsheaf Inn, Dry Doddington, was submitted to South Kesteven District Council in January this year, and is currently awaiting decision by the authority.
Owner Barry Woodward, of Tavern Group Properties Ltd, wants to change change the use of the building from a public house to a single four-bedroom family home.
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Dry Doddington. Photo: Tavern Group Properties Ltd via SKDC planning portal
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Planning documents stated the building had “a lack of demand as a pub”, noting that “rising costs, declining rural trade, and competition from nearby pubs have made the business unsustainable”.
The building, a traditional rendered two-story building, has been marketed for sale for more than 18 months both locally and nationally with no interest, despite the price being reduced by £150,000 over that time.
Other uses, such as a shop or cafe had been considered, the application stated, but would not be commercially viable — while conversion to a home “contributes to local housing supply and secures the long-term future of a redundant building”.
Minustes from the Grantham CAMRA branch meeting in July 2025 noted that present members were in agreement the owner had “tried everything within his abilities to keep the pub open and that it wasn’t viable in the local area at this time”, with this including pool and skittles, a large projector screen for sporting events, live music, and free stop-overs for motorhomes.
Since its closure, the building is also said to have faced issued with trespassing and criminal damage resulting in it being boarded up.
The proposed conversion of The Wheatsheaf Inn, Dry Doddington. Photo: Tavern Group Properties Ltd via SKDC planning portal
The proposals aim to maintain the character of the building externally, with internal alterations to form living spaces in the downstairs bar area, and the existing flat upstairs.
This would include a games room, open plan kitchen-diner, home office, lounge, a family bathroom, and four bedrooms.
Two public consultations were run by the owner, seeking residents’ views on the future of the building, and were reported to have few responses.
However, a number of comments of objection and concern have been submitted on the council’s planning portal by residents — who made claims that the current owner took on the premises “solely to convert it to a residential property”, and noted “huge support within the village and surrounding area to once again allow our public house to flourish and continue under a new committed owner”.
The closure of the pub was also said to have “fractured” the community, and fears were raised the approval of the application would make the closure permanent.
An action group, ‘Save The Wheatsheaf Inn’, has also been established to represent residents and protect a community asset, with more than 60 members.
The group stated their belief it could be a “viable business if it was a well-managed and diversified pub offering good customer service” and claimed the pub had been marketed at an “unrealistic price” which accounted for the lack of interest.
It added: “The local community have always strongly supported village events and view The Wheatsheaf Inn as the social hub of the village.”
Now, The Campaign for Pubs — a UK-wide grassroots campaign group — has added its voice to the fight and objected to the plans.
Marianne Langley, a member of the campaign’s planning team, said: “That this pub was until recently a valued and popular community facility is evidenced by the considerable efforts of residents to prevent its loss, including Asset of Community Value applications, the formation of the Save the Wheatsheaf Inn group and numerous objections to this and previous planning applications”.
Mrs Langley highlighted that the proposal contravenes the South Kesteven District Council local plan requirements for retaining community facilities and as such the application should be refused.
She added: “We are fully behind the Save the Wheatsheaf Inn campaign. As a Lincolnshire resident I have been a patron of the Wheatsheaf on a number of occasions and it’s a fabulous and cherished amenity. I hope that the council will refuse this unreasonable and unnecessary planning application.”
