The Kings Head pub is a grade two listed building in Pulham St Mary which has been saved from demolition by South Norfolk Council.
The High Court granted an injunction to the council on 11th February 2026, preventing the owner from demolishing the historic building. As well as being listed, the pub is also situated within a conservation area.
Mr Scott, the present owner, has had plans to build houses on the site of the Kings Head repeatedly refused. Despite this, it is understood that Mr Scott intended to carry on with the demolition anyway. Hence, the council were forced to seek an injunction from the High Court to prevent the demolition being carried out.
Daniel Elmer, lead of South Norfolk Council, said: “The historic towns and villages of South Norfolk are a valuable asset for us all. We have tried to work with the owner of the Kings Head, but it is the Council’s duty to protect our listed buildings and the conservation areas in South Norfolk from harm.
“When we were made aware that Mr Scott was planning to demolish the pub we had to act to save the building and that is exactly what we did.”
Following Mr Scott’s latest application in 2024, almost 1,000 people signed a petition in protest. The Council’s decision to refuse his application concluded: “The proposed demolition would result in the total loss of the grade II listed King’s Head public house and would result in harm to the significance of the conservation area.
“There is an absence of any clear and convincing justification for the scheme, including any benefit to the community. The applicant has failed to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the public house, a community facility, could not be brought back into use as a public house or similar community use.”
Clayton Hudson, local district councillor, said: “We have to find a way forward and where there’s a will, there’s a way. I appeal to Mr Scott to sit down with members of the community, officers from the council and myself to collectively work to develop a plan to bring this wonderful, listed building back to its former glory.
“The community achieved great things with the former Pennoyer school over 15 years ago so I have no doubt of their ability to make similar things happen again.”
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