Why we need the heritage pubs bill after Crooked House destruction

Watching an irreplaceable 1765 landmark reduced to rubble overnight was an outrage that touched people right across Britain. While our determination to see the wonky pub rebuilt brick by brick remains absolute, fighting drawn-out legal battles after the wrecking ball has struck is simply not enough.

We have a duty to fix the law so that no other community is robbed of its heritage. That is why I introduced my Heritage Public Houses Bill, backed by CAMRA’s 145,000 members, which comes before the House of Commons for its Second Reading this Friday.

Every line of this legislation is designed to close the loopholes exploited in the scandal at Himley. Had this Bill been on the statute book in 2023, it would have saved the Crooked House in four decisive ways:

First, it ends the scourge of secret sales. In 2023, the local community did not even know that Marston’s had put the Crooked House on the market until contracts had exchanged - sold to buyers who clearly had no intention of running it as a pub. By then, it was too late. Under my Bill, local councils will maintain a statutory register of heritage public houses. The moment a registered pub is put up for sale, the owner must notify the local planning authority, which in turn must formally publicise the sale. Secret deals behind closed doors would become a thing of the past.

Second, it establishes a genuine Community Right to Buy. Because the Crooked House was sold in secret, neither the community nor another pub operator had any chance to assemble a rival bid. Under my legislation, during the first 12 months a registered pub is on the market, it can only be sold if the buyer signs a legally binding covenant guaranteeing its continued operation as a pub, or if it is sold to a community group. Community buyers will have up to 18 months to complete the purchase, and if an agreement on price cannot be reached, the figure will be determined by an independent valuer. Owners will no longer be able to freeze out local communities with inflated asking prices.

Third, it introduces immediate interim protection against demolition. When local residents discovered the Crooked House had been sold, Councillor Victoria Wilson moved swiftly to apply for listed building status. Tragically, the pub was torched and bulldozed before English Heritage could determine the application. Adopting a proven measure already in place in Wales, my Bill ensures that the moment an application to list a registered heritage pub is submitted, it automatically receives interim listed status. This legally treats the pub as a listed building while the paperwork is processed, stopping bulldozers in their tracks.

Fourth, it kills speculative development at source. The Bill creates a strong presumption against granting planning permission for a change of use on any registered heritage pub. Had the buyers known there was next to no chance of converting the site into an alternative development, they would never have bought it in the first place, leaving Marston’s to find an operator dedicated to keeping the pub open.

This issue should be above party-politics and I make an open offer to work with the Government, and with MPs from all parties, to make sure that we fix the gaps in the law and make sure that no other community loses cherished heritage pubs as we did when the Crooked House went up in flames. We can start by passing this Bill on Friday.

I can think of no better enduring legacy as we continue to campaign for the Crooked House to be rebuilt.