Council blocks demolition of Pulham St Mary King's Head pub

South Norfolk Council has refused an application to knock down the former King's Head in the centre of Pulham St Mary, near Diss.

Landlord Graham Scott has made several attempts over the last decade to see the Grade II listed building torn down to make way for housing.

He says the planning stalemate has left him facing "virtual financial ruin". 

The council, however, has insisted that the building could be brought back into use as a pub and says his latest application contains "no convincing justification" for tearing it down. 

Graham Scott at the King's Head in 2009 (Image: Denise Bradley)

This marks a victory for local campaigners who launched a petition against the plans, which attracted nearly 1,000 supporters. 

Sheila King, who started the appeal, said the demolition of the King's Head would "destroy a piece of history" in the village. 

"Our pub is a building that holds immense historical and community value for us and we want to see it retained and restored," she added.

Clayton Hudson, South Norfolk councillor for Pulham St Mary, has called on the authority to purchase the building and put an end to the saga once and for all. 

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District councillor Clayton Hudson addressing a public meeting in 2015 about the future of the redundant Kings Head (Image: Sonya Duncan)

However, the council has no plans to do so and believes a new owner could make a success of the pub, which closed nearly two decades ago. 

Mr Scott said the business had become "loss-making" and insists that turning the site into housing remains his only viable option. 

His most recent failed bid to demolish the building was blocked by South Norfolk Council three months ago but the fate of the pub remained uncertain while this delayed application was left in the pipeline. 

This is the fourth attempt to knock down the building to be refused by the authority.