Plans to turn a Grade-II listed pub in Warwick town centre into a house look set to get the green light despite objections from local residents.

Punch Partnership wants to turn the Zetland Arms, on Church Street, into a seven-bedroom house.

The pub, which dates back to the the 19th century, has been closed since January 2020.

And the owners have seen no point in reopening due to a new Fire Risk Assessment limiting the number of customers to 60 and because of the low footfall on the street.

The application, which was first submitted in April 2021, said no new tenant could be found.

Adding: "The Zetland is located in a street which is largely devoid of other retailers, meaning that customer footfall is limited, and it faces stiff competition from other, better located public houses in the town centre."

Punch said it intends to keep the outside of the building the same to preserve "the heritage asset", but extensive work would be needed inside.

Objections

Warwick District Council officers have recommended that planning approval be given, but 17 objections have already been made.

Joy Bainbridge said: "As a public house with a garden this should be retained as community asset- more important than ever in the current pandemic.

"There is already an abundance of new build proposed in Warwick - surely it is important to retain some of our historic buildings for public use."

But WDC officers said the fact that there were so many pubs nearby meant there would be less of an impact.

"Seven other public houses or comparable facilities lie within 300 metres of the Zetland Arms, increasing to sixteen within 700 metres," the report said.

"While the loss of any community facility of this type is regrettable, particularly for patrons within the immediate locality, given that there are similar facilities accessible to the local community by means other than the car, the proposal is considered to comply with Policy HS8."

Adding: "Economic constraints exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic have been highlighted as a key contributor to this position. In addition, the subsequent completion of a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) has effectively limited the capacity of the Public House to 60, as opposed to the previously adopted figure of 100 patrons.

"This additional loss of potential income has further limited the viability of the commercial operation."

WDC's planning committee will discuss the plans next Tuesday.