Hope could be on the horizon for the vacant Freed Man pub after campaigners won a victory against developers planning to build student flats.

Norwich Evening News: THE FREED MAN PUB, ON ST. MILDRED'S ROAD, NORWICH. FOR EVENING NEWS LETTERS PAGE.THE FREED MAN PUB, ON ST. MILDRED'S ROAD, NORWICH. FOR EVENING NEWS LETTERS PAGE.

The former 1950s pub on St Mildreds Road in west Earlham has been empty for more than two years, and Norwich-based developers Estateducation has lodged plans with City Hall seeking permission to convert it.

Revisions had been made to a previous submission and asked for 35 student flats to be considered.

The Norwich and Norfolk branch of CAMRA objected to the plans and applied for the pub to be added to the Asset of Community Value register, which is pending.

Neil Bowers, pub protection officer for the Norwich and Norfolk branch of CAMRA, objected to the proposal.

He said: 'Although this pub has been closed for a number of years, there is potential for this to become a well run pub again.

'Pubs are the centre of the community, where people socialise and come together for a drink.

'Norwich used to be known for having a pub for every day of the year, sadly in 2017 there are less than 200 pubs that are now open in our fine city.'

The city council rejected the application on the basis of 'unacceptable' living conditions and the proximity of nearby woodland.

In their decision notice refusing the application last week, officers at Norwich City Council wrote: 'Given the proximity of the proposed development to the woodland at the rear of the site, rear facing habitable rooms would benefit from very poor levels of outlook and daylighting. Consequently, living conditions for future occupants would be unacceptable.

'Given the close proximity of the proposed development to the trees, the council considers that the nuisance posed by the trees is likely to be significant and that associated maintenance works are likely to be frequent.'

The Freed Man was offered for sale from February 2016, but only three offers were received and these were not from public house operators. Prior to this, the public house had been offered for lease for a period of 32 months, but again without any success. Prior to its closure the pub had been leased on a temporary basis with an initial rent free agreement before a reduced rent kicked in. It is stated that the previous tenants absconded once the reduced rent kicked in, which led to the pub being repossessed in June 2015.