THE Cherry Tree pub in Rowledge may well have pulled its last pint, after the 17th century inn’s new owners submitted a change of use application to Waverley Borough Council.

D’zign Build Ltd, which recently acquired the pub from brewing giants Greene King, has applied for consent to change The Cherry Tree Road drinking hole’s legal use from a restaurant (Class A3) to offices (Class A2).

If approved by the borough council, the application could open the door for the pub’s future conversion to a residential development under permitted development rights.

This would remove the need for the new owners to consult villagers on the potential loss of their pub, or to gain the permission of council planners and elected councillors.

According to villagers, D’zign Build Ltd, which is based in Badshot Lea, has already begun stripping out the pub’s interior, as well as placing barriers at the entrance to its car park.

The change of use application can be viewed online at www.waverley.gov.uk/planning

by searching for reference WA/2017/0580. The deadline for public comments is today (Friday).