A “struggling” pub in Saddleworth that is fighting to stay open has had its plans to build four log cabin holiday lets on green belt land next to its premises rejected.

The Rams Head Inn on Ripponden Road in Denshaw submitted the plans in March stating that for many years it has, “experienced increasing pressure” from customers to provide overnight accommodation but that the rooms above the pub are “unsuitable for conversion”.

In a planning statement sent to the council, the pub said “a total lack of public transport” in the immediate area and the “great difficulty” customers face to get taxis on public holidays, weekends, late nights, Christmas, and New Year, is impacting essential trading days for the business.

The pub said that it has seen profitability “decrease substantially” due to a loss of trade and trading days and overhead costs (particularly electricity) “increase dramatically”.

“A renewal of the electricity supply is due at the end of March, and this is to increase from £2,000 per month to £6,500 per month, a huge burden for an already struggling business,” it added.

The pub has warned that if the business cannot be made “more profitable” it would be “financially beneficial” to close the business and submit an application to use the property solely as a domestic dwelling.

Despite the pub’s concerns, planning officers rejected the log cabin proposal deeming it an “inappropriate development in the green belt”.

The decision notice states: “The proposed development represents inappropriate development in the green belt which is, by definition, harmful to the green belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.

“The applicant has failed to demonstrate that such circumstances exist which sufficiently outweigh the harm caused to the green belt.”

A report by the council added: “Whilst it is acknowledged that there would be some benefits to tourism, the isolated location would prove difficult for public transport and there would be a heavy reliance on car use.

“In addition to this, many of the other points put forward are personal gains for the business owner.

"These are not considered to be wholly public benefits, rather more personal benefits.”

The proposals were for four “simple shed-like designs” constructed of vertical timber on the grassed area between the pub and Moor Cottage.

Each cabin would have contained a living room/kitchen area, a bathroom, and two bedrooms with designated car parking available within the pub car park.

The planning application and decision are available to view on the council website.