Plans to demolish part of a Grade II listed pub in Warwick town centre look set to be given the green light by the district council.

Having closed "for the foreseeable future" in September 2020, the Punch Bowl has been shut for nearly two years.

Plans to demolish some 20th century rear extensions at The Butts venue were revealed in March 2021 by Secret Properties Ltd.

Meanwhile a separate application to change the use of the pub into a house was also submitted to Warwick District Council at the same time.

WDC will discuss the first scheme next Wednesday, with council officers recommending that planning permission be granted.

"Officers consider that the elements of the building to be removed are relatively unattractive and inappropriate modern extensions to the listed building," a council report said.

"Their removal would simplify the plan form and appearance of the building so that it is more sympathetic to it's original character and that of the conservation area.

"Removing inappropriate and unsightly extensions is also considered to be of benefit to the setting of the nearby listed buildings due to the enhancement of the conservation area that would result.

"Whilst it is acknowledged that the original use of the building is a public house, it is considered that its former use will be remain legible following the conversion to a dwelling."

The Punch Bowl, which dates back to the 18th century, started life as a coaching inn, before becoming a hotel and then a pub.

As well as the partial demolition, the scheme also includes a number of internal and external alterations.

And with the pub forced to close due to the pandemic, the application said it was no longer commercially viable.

"The position outside the town that was once an important attribute now leave the building isolated from the centre and difficult to find, simply there isn't the passing footfall to sustain a business of this type in this location," it said.

"The aim of proposal is therefore to provide a new sustainable future for an important heritage asset.

"With 20 bars and pubs listed in Warwick it is unlikely that there are sufficient community particularly after the pandemic to sustain all of these businesses certainly the loss of this one will have little impact on the economic life of the town."

Twelve objections have been made to the application, with one letter of support added.

A further 120 objections have been made to the separate 'change of use' application.