- The Bell in Faringdon closed in 2022 after difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A planning application proposes converting the Grade II listed building into nine apartments.
- The plans also include the possibility of a public-facing coffee shop.
- Faringdon Town Councillor Richard Johnson has raised concerns about parking, heritage and the loss of a community pub.
- The proposal has yet to be determined by Vale of White Horse District Council.
Faringdon (Oxford Daily) October 27, 2026 – Plans to convert the historic Bell pub into nine apartments have prompted concern from a Faringdon town councillor, who said the building remains an important part of the town’s identity.
As reported by the Oxford Mail, the application seeks permission to adapt the Grade II listed building at Market Place while retaining most of its external walls and roof structure. The proposal also allows for the possible introduction of a public-facing coffee shop.
The planning statement says the building is currently “redundant and disused” and describes the proposed work as a way to return it to viable use while protecting its historic and architectural significance.
What do the plans for The Bell include?
The application proposes nine apartments within the former pub. Documents submitted through the Vale of White Horse planning portal say the alterations would be sensitive to the listed building’s historic significance, architectural character and setting.
The proposal also includes four parking spaces for the planned 22 residents. The application states that the established architectural form of The Bell would be retained, with the external walls and roof structure remaining predominantly unchanged.
Why did The Bell close?
The Oxford Mail reported that The Bell closed in 2022 after its owners struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The building, previously owned by Wadworth brewery, was placed on the market in 2023 after no tenants could be found amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The planning documents describe the pub as having slowly declined before becoming vacant. The application argues that the proposed conversion would bring the disused building back into use while safeguarding its heritage value.
What concerns have been raised in Faringdon?
Faringdon Town Councillor Richard Johnson told the Oxford Mail that he was concerned about the proposal. He said The Bell was not only part of the town’s community heritage but also occupied a central position in the marketplace.
“It gives the first impression for visitors,” Richard Johnson said, according to the Oxford Mail.
Richard Johnson also referred to the building’s ancient links with a medieval hospice associated with Cistercian monks from Beaulieu Abbey. He questioned whether four parking spaces would be suitable for 22 residents.
He suggested that alternatives could include reopening The Bell as a pub or restaurant, or examining whether the community could pursue a right to buy the property.
What happens next with the application?
Vale of White Horse District Council will assess the application before deciding whether the conversion can proceed. The available reports do not record a final planning decision or a confirmed timetable for determination.
Background to The Bell proposal
The Bell has a prominent position in Faringdon’s Market Place and is a Grade II listed building. The submitted plans say the redevelopment is intended to address the building’s current vacancy while preserving its principal historic features.
How could the plans affect Faringdon?
If approved, the scheme would create nine apartments and could introduce a coffee shop in a central town building that has been unused since 2022. It would also mean the site would no longer operate as a pub.
The proposal could provide a long-term use for a deteriorating listed property, but concerns about parking, heritage and the loss of a community venue may remain part of the planning debate. The final effect on Faringdon will depend on the council’s decision and any conditions attached to permission.
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