Work on rebuilding the Ship Inn looks likely to be paused because of planning issues, but is expected to resume at full sail once the matter is resolved.

The new owner of the pub at Cockwood, Colin Authers, has been making impressive progress since starting work on the site a few months ago. The gable wall that dramatically collapsed during a storm in 2023 is being rebuilt as part of a major structural repair operation.

Work underway to rebuild the collapsed gable wall at The Ship Inn, Cockwood
Work underway to rebuild the collapsed gable wall at The Ship Inn, Cockwood (Refloating The Ship)

Meanwhile the pub’s gardens are being cleared of weeds and brambles and made accessible to wheelchair users.

Mr Authers hopes to have the pub open for drinks by next spring, with the food service expected to get up and running later in 2027.

But workers will have to down tools for a while after some minor planning issues were raised by Teignbridge District Council. Its planning department has queried the repositioning of a door in the main pub building, a change which it says was not included in the planning application.

The council also says it should have received details of the exterior building materials before the collapsed wall was rebuilt, as a condition of planning approval. These details were submitted as part of an earlier planning application which was then withdrawn. The council says the condition is still ‘outstanding’ and that it seems a planning breach has occurred because work is already underway on-site.

Mr Authers has been given 28 days to submit the necessary details of the building materials. As to the repositioning of the pub door, he’s been asked to ensure that the works are ‘in accordance with the approved plans’, or that an application is submitted to determine whether the alterations are acceptable.

The restoration work will get back on course once these planning queries have been resolved.