Historic 18th century Surrey pub could return - but it will come at a cost

The Anchor in Knaphill, originally built in the late 1700s, closed its doors in 2020. Plans had already been approved to split the building into housing and a smaller pub.

Any hope that would see the Sandcastle pub, as it’s sometimes referred to locally, reopen in some shape or form were slowly dashed when the planning permission expired with no work carried out.

Now the developers have returned with near identical proposals that could potentially see the historic site welcome people back through its doors once more.

The plans, which are set to be considered by Woking Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, September 3, are for an extension to build three two-bed, and five one-bed homes above a smaller, by 30 per cent, venue.

The application is the resubmission of a bid, granted in 2018 but which lapsed in 2022.

The Anchor, in Lower Guildford Road, is locally listed and council planning policy seeks to protect pubs “because of the importance of these uses for meeting the everyday needs of those living locally”.

“Pubs can also be regarded as community facilities and are therefore offered protection”, the council’s planning strategy reads.

Planners, recommended the proposal be approved say the designs “strike an acceptable balance between retaining a commercial use and giving the existing pub an opportunity to remain whilst delivering additional residential units as part of a mixed-use development of the site.”

The Anchor has twice been nominated and designated as an Asset of Community Value but on both occasions the listing was overturned by Woking Borough Council.

Noise concerns linked to living above a pub have been addressed, planners said.

They said: “The applicant has provided a report from an acoustic consultant indicating that acceptable noise levels in the residential units would be achievable subject to various mitigation measures including acoustic insulation and glazing specifications.

“The council’s environmental health team has been consulted and raises no objections.”