Punch Bowl Inn: Deadline reached to rebuild listed demolished pub

The owners of a listed 18th Century pub that was illegally demolished have reached the deadline to rebuild it.

The Punch Bowl Inn in Hurst Green, Lancashire, was bulldozed by Donelan Trading Ltd after the group ignored a council decision in June 2021.

Five people were fined over £20,000 last year for their role in knocking down the Grade II-listed building.

The owners were ordered to rebuild it to its original plan based on architectural records.

The Punch Bowl Inn owners and contractor Percliff were ordered to pay a range of fines and costs at Blackburn Magistrates Court by district judge Alexander Boyd, who said the company was aware the demolition of the building was a criminal offence when it took place.

The three owners, Andrew Donelan, his wife Nicola Donelan and daughter Rebecca Donelan, told the court they were worried the building had become unsafe and they believed it had got worse over the years and had been broken into and targeted by arsonists.

The court heard Donelan Trading had submitted various plans to the council before 2021 signifying an intention to give the site a new lease of life.

While a holiday lodge park was approved with conditions, various other applications were refused.

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