A 'sinking' staircase at an historic Cookham pub is set to be repaired.

The Kings Arms on Cookham High Street has received listed building consent to carry out the repairs.

The popular venue, which underwent a major refurbishment last year, dates all the way back to the sixteenth century.

Problems around the staircase were identified while the refurbishment and maintenance works were being carried out in the pub.

A statement from the applicant reads: “Recently planning permission was granted for refurbishment works as part of on-going maintenance to the existing Public House.

“However, whilst carrying out such works the carpet to the first floor and second floor staircase were removed revealing the fact the staircase was sinking in the middle and had pulled away from the walls.

“After advice from a structural engineer a programme of repairs has since been devised including strapping the stair treads back to the wall and installing an extension to the existing newel post in order to make the staircase structurally sounds.”

Council planning officers deemed the pub to be of “architectural and historic interest” and have approved the repair work.

Their report reads: “The proposal is necessary and although it requires some slight damage to both original and nonoriginal fabric it is nevertheless a conservative repair required for structural safety and would not cause any further harm to the integrity, form or character of the listed building.”

To find out more about this planning application, visit RBWM’s planning portal with the reference 23/02233/LBC.