AN HISTORIC pub in Cockwood could be saved after councillors agreed to register is as a community asset.

Dawlish Town Council’s full council meeting heard that MP Martin Wrigley had been approached suggested the Ship Inn should be considered to be nominated under the scheme.

Councillors voted in favour of applying to Teignbridge Council to register the 17th century pub as an Asset of Community Value.

This will now be submitted in recognition of its significance to the local community.

The decision follows concerns over its future and potential sale.

The pub, which hit the headlines in October 2023 when it collapsed during heavy rain.

The town council was told the pub, which has been closed since the cob wall collapsed and needs significant rebuilding, may be put on the market with a reported guide price of £50,000.

This does not include the costs of rebuilding and substantial repairs.

By registering the pub as a community asset under the Localism Act, the listing lasts for up to five years.

This means if the owner decides to sell, the district council must be notified.

This triggers a six-week moratorium period during which community interest may be registered.

If a community group wishes to bid, a six-month moratorium applies to allow time to prepare a bid.

The building is made from cob, a traditional West Country building material, which is a mixture of mud and straw.

When the rain hit, an entire wall collapsed, leaving a gaping hole to one side of the building.

Upper accommodation, where the chef had lived, was one of the rooms left exposed.

Before the wall collapsed a large crack, visible from the outside, had been investigated.

A build-up of water may have penetrated the crevice and destabilised the cob construction.

The pub is owned by Punch Pubs and Co.