Assets of Community Value Register

The Black Bull

25/00002/ACV

CRTB38

Main Road, Margaretting, Ingatestone CM4 9JA

04-Nov-25

Margaretting Parish Council

30-Dec-25

Unsuccessful

On balance, the Local Authority considers that neither s.88(1) (a) nor s.88(2) (a) and (b) of the Localism Act 2011 are satisfied on the evidence provided.

Whilst the premises has operated as a public house for many years and the time in recent past can be more generous, it seems that there is not the local support or use of this public house and there is no sufficient evidence of a use/uses that furthered the social wellbeing or interests of the local community in the recent past. Simply being a public house/restaurant does not necessarily pass this test.

The events that are quoted which are capable of furthering the social well-being or interests of the local community, either no date is given as to when these were last provided, or they were a long time ago (8 years and as much as 14 years ago is evidenced).

s.88(2)(b) states it is realistic to think that there is a time in the next five years when there could be non-ancillary use of the building or other land that would further (whether or not in the same way as before) the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

Given the evidence of lack of support from the local community, the fact the Parish Council did not seek to be treated as a potential bidder last time the pub was sold, and that the Property is on the market now and could be sold to anyone, it is not realistic to think that there is a time in the next five years when there could be non-ancillary use of the building or other land that would further (whether or not in the same way as before) the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

Therefore, s.88(2)(b) is not met either.

12-Dec-2025