Yet more delay and upset for campaigners hoping to rebuild Dudley's wonky Crooked House

A notice was posted by South Staffordshire Council following an announcement by the Planning Inspectorate that the Planning Enforcement Public Inquiry would be delayed until the conclusion of any potential criminal proceedings.

The postponement of the inquiry follows on from ATE Farms lodging a High Court appeal on February 5 over the planning inspectorate’s refusal to postpone the planning enforcement public inquiry, with a hearing initially scheduled for March 11.

It means that more than one-and-a-half years after "Britain's Wonkiest Pub", as the Crooked House was affectionately known, was destroyed following fire in August 2023, then demolished two days later, the wait still goes on for a public inquiry to take place.

The council said it was disappointed to see the inquiry postponed, but said it was down to circumstances beyond its control.

A spokesman for South Staffordshire Council said: "A High Court challenge was lodged by the owners of the Crooked House to challenge the Planning Inspectorate’s refusal to postpone the Planning Enforcement Public Inquiry. 

"South Staffordshire Council is extremely disappointed to announce that following the High Court challenge that took place on February 5, the Planning Inspectorate has today (February 11) confirmed that the Planning Enforcement Public Inquiry will be held in abeyance

"This means that the Crooked House Public Inquiry for the appeal, scheduled for March 11, will now not go ahead as planned and will likely resume when the criminal investigation into the fire at the Crooked House has been concluded.

"South Staffordshire Council has worked very hard to prepare for the Public Inquiry and to defend the Enforcement Notice issued in February 2024, but has now exhausted all avenues to see this Public Inquiry go ahead as planned in March 2025."

Councillor Mark Evans, Cabinet Member for Planning and Enterprise Services, said: “It is incredibly frustrating that, despite South Staffordshire Council’s extensive efforts to hold the Planning Enforcement Public Inquiry this spring, it will now have to be delayed until the conclusion of any potential criminal proceedings. 

"We know that local residents and those affected by the loss of the Crooked House will share our deep disappointment. 

"While this decision is beyond our control, I want to reassure the public that we remain committed to doing everything in our power to progress this matter as soon as we are able to.”

For further information visit: the crooked house