UPGRADE plans for a popular Dorset pub have been refused planning consent – including a dining room extension and changes to the riverside area, already in place.

The Coventry Arms at Corfe Mullen has been undergoing a recent revamp – aimed at a new image, featuring riverside dining and the name Riverside at The Coventry Arms.

But the business has now been refused planning consent for a single storey dining room extension and told that alterations to the outside space will also not be granted consent.

Both are considered to clash with green belt policies with concerns also expressed over the flood risk.

The new extension and outside areas feature in online advertising for the pub which is currently offering seasonal festive menus.

The flat-roof extension, which adds 92quare metres to the pub’s useable public space, was started a year ago and has large bifold doors and dark grey aluminium windows overlooking the River Stour.  It is shown in the pub video fully equipped.

A letter to Dorset Council from a planning agent for the pub said that it was believed the works could be carried out using permitted development rights – but it was later discovered the latest extension put the site beyond the size limits for consent method because of an earlier extension of around 100square metres.

Corfe Mullen Town Council had not objected to the changes.

Dorset Council planning officers say that since 1987 the footprint of the pub has almost doubled with a previous extension which, when added to the new one: “results in the extensions at the building representing disproportionate additions to the original building. Therefore, the retention of the extension is inappropriate development in the Green Belt and harmful by definition.”

A similar view was taken by the council over an outside decked seating area and other seating areas, including a transparent ‘pod’, and an outside kitchen and bar. All of these also feature in the pub’s recently updated online prescence.

A planning case officer report said that although the pub will increase its staff from 16 to 18 as a result of the extra space this alone is not significant enough to justify the changes being given consent.

Said a Council spokesman when asked what was likely to happen next: “The applicant has the right of appeal for both refusals (appeals have 6 months from the decision to be lodged). During this time we are currently considering our position in terms of enforcement.”

The business has been asked for a response but as yet has not replied to the request. It continues to trade as normal.