Plan to transform 18th century Greyhound Inn with 22 apartments and houses

Plans have been submitted to transform the Greyhound Inn into homes.

The pub, in Swindon, near Dudley, would shut its doors for good under proposals creating 22 apartments and houses.

Beer and pub group Marston's have agreed to the sell the pub, off High Street, which is currently operating temporarily as a Thai restaurant.

The red brick early 18th century pub would be transformed into six one or two bedroom apartments under the plans lodged with South Staffordshire District Council.

An empty barn building next to the pub would also be converted into two semi-detached one-bedroom homes if the plans are approved.

Land around the 1.1-acre site also falls under the plans for a new housing estate submitted by applicant and agent Carl Higgs.

Eight three-bedroom houses would front onto Wombourne Road and six two-bedroom, semi-detached dwellings would be built onto Winston Road.

New homes must be built in Swindon as part of the South Staffordshire Core Strategy planning document which details future developments in the district. Around 23 houses need to be built in the village in the next 15 years.

The developer says in a report to planners that the pub restaurant has been struggling financially and is at 'risk of closure'.

"Currently it has tenants who open the licensed premises during limited hours, but this is primarily a caretaking operation to look after the building pending the approval of a planning scheme for its change of use," said the report.

The report added: "It is imperative that a new use is found and developed to give new life to the listed building that has outworn its current use as a public house.

"The applicant appreciates the significance of these heritage assets and will endeavour to preserve and enhance them in the course of the development and alterations.

"The proposal will restore a listed building and return it to long-term beneficial use, and bring a variety of new dwellings into the local housing stock."

Marston's spokesman Danny Bowles said: "We have agreed to sell the pub and understand that the purchaser has put in a planning application for a change of use."

Swindon councillor Roger Lees said: "Swindon village is required to find 23 homes in the next 15 years in the South Staffordshire Core Strategy. The site allocation is now taking place.

"It is better to develop in the village centre rather than in the surrounding green belt. I agree with the principle of the development."

He said efforts were being made to ensure housing needs were being met.

A decision on the application will be taken within the next three months.