Former Royal Oak Inn Devizes up for sale after housing plan

The Royal Oak Inn, a former Fullers pub on New Park Street in Devizes, closed its doors around a decade ago before a brief stint as an antiques store.

In November 2020 Wiltshire Council granted planning permission for the Grade II listed site to be converted into residential apartments, a year after it was purchased by applicant David Webb, of Webb Construction in Oxfordshire.

Work had started at the currently disused site following this decision, with the internal strip-out largely completed according to estate agents Allen & Harris.

But the prominent building, which sits near the town centre, has now been put back on the market for a guide price of £340,000.

The listing claims that planning permission remains valid for the conversion of the former pub into eight residential apartments.

Inside the Royal Oak Inn (Image: Rightmove)

It also notes that there has been “some deterioration” in the condition of the property since the most recent pictures, but describes it as a “fantastic development opportunity.”

Wiltshire Council recently confirmed that the approved work on the inside of the property had commenced, but that they were continuing to monitor the development.

This came after the council served the former pub’s owners with a Section 330 enforcement notice in April.

Concerns had been raised over the condition of the listed building, which was described as “abandoned” and "decaying."

The council has since been working with the owners to seek improvements to the building.

In November, Cllr Nick Botterill, the cabinet member for development management, said: “No formal enforcement action has been taken as negotiations with the owner of the property are ongoing and because internal works approved under consent reference 20/07650/LBC have now commenced.

The Royal Oak Inn (Image: Rightmove)

“The owner of the property has advised that these works are part of the planned overall refurbishment of the building, including to its external appearance. 

“We will continue to monitor the property and so the enforcement file remains open.”

Among those to raise concerns about the external appearance of the building was Phillipa Morgan, the secretary of the Trust for Devizes.

At the time she said: “It’s effectively been left to decay and it’s very sad because it’s crumbling and it’s a Grade II listed building.

“It’s been an ongoing issue for many years and we’re very concerned because it’s on the main road through Devizes and it makes the town look very scruffy.”