BREWER Hall & Woodhouse has been given consent to proceed with plans to invest £500,000 into a pub and provide new housing for the local community.

North Dorset District Council’s Planning Committee has approved the application which will see Sturminster Newton benefit from 17 new homes being built in the field next to the Bull Tavern, out of which 25% will be affordable housing. The development will also deliver over £125,000 of s106 contributions.

In addition, £500,000 of improvement works will be carried out for the benefit of Bull Tavern, helping to ensure that the pub remains a vital asset for the local community and a viable business for the future. This significant investment will create new accommodation for Bull Tavern’s publican, additional landscaped parking for around 22 cars served by a new access road, and an improved pub garden for the Bull Tavern. H&W has also pledged to invest in flood defence works directly related to the Bull Tavern.

Cllr David Walsh, North Dorset District Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “It’s great that we have been able to approve this development, which was strongly supported by the town council and local community.

“Pubs can be vibrant community centres and investment in them is welcomed. I look forward to seeing the design application for the scheme and building work taking place.”

Mark Woodhouse, Chairman of Hall & Woodhouse, added: “I am delighted that permission to develop the field next to the Bull Tavern has been granted as it will help to ensure its future as a public house, and I look forward to having a pint there in 2027 to celebrate Hall & Woodhouse’s 250th birthday.”

Hall & Woodhouse is a local independent family company that brews award-winning Badger ales and runs a collection of around 200 beautiful pubs and inns across the south of England. The business is dedicated to supporting the Dorset community and its causes, having invested more than £30million into the county over the past five years, on top of their regular and extensive charity donations.

Please visit www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk for more information.