A planning application has been made for the conversion of the former Kings Arms public house in Wellington to provide a street level community facility with four flats on the upper two storeys.

Falcon Rural Housing Association wants to provide social rented flats for local people in housing need and to repurpose the former pub area on the ground flood for ‘community benefit’ purposes. Planning consultant Peter Stackhouse said the ground floor could be used for affordable housing but Falcon strongly believed, because the Kings Arms was in such a prominent town centre position it was a vital service area opportunity for the community.

Mr Stackhouse said Falcon was currently in talks with local voluntary service providers which were looking for a central and easily accessible location to share and put to multi-use. He said: “This is to enable them to grow their support in the local community and to continue to provide the understated and underfunded lifelines used by many people, including some of the most vulnerable in Wellington.

“These services are being, and will be, provided by Wellington churches, voluntary groups, and other small charitable groups.”

Mr Stackhouse said Falcon was working with the town council to draw up a partnership agreement for the space to be fully utilised by the various groups. He said the Kings Arms had been allowed to fall into a bad state of disrepair and ‘little or no’ maintenance work has been undertaken for at least a decade and a vast ammount of damage has occured recently through sheer neglect and vandalism. “Furthermore, it would appear that the many previous alterations and redesigns from the 1900s to the present day, have not been carried out to a particularly high standard.” he said

Mr Stackhouse said in recognition of the building’s contribution to the street-scene there would not be any major changes to the High Street frontage. Public comments can be made on the planning application until August 5 and Somerset West and Taunton Council has a target date of September 1 to take a decision on it.