Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is due to decide on plans to convert the Biddulph Arms into 10 flats at a meeting next week.

The application was submitted back in January by local businessman Inderjit Garcha. The pub has stood unused for several years, but changed ownership after it was sold in summer 2018.

It was previously thought by some that the well-known Biddulph building could be turned back into its original use as a pub, after Mr Garcha was granted a license by the district council.

However, with this latest application, it now appears that the old pub will be converted into a residential building after all.

The application would see the main building being converted into nine residential units, with a nearby outbuilding also being converted into one extra residential unit.

The structure of the building itself would not be substantially changed, as the plans would be carried out without any extension or demolition taking place. The flats would be served by 15 parking spaces in the old pub's car park.

The building would be made up of four one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom flats, and one three-bedroom flat, spaced out over three floors.

Biddulph Town Council has supported the plans, stating that conversion of a brownfield site would benefit the Local Plan. Councillors added that they would be sorry to see the building lose its use as a pub, but supported the application as they felt it would keep the building in place.

The district council's planning officers have recommended the application for approval, saying in a planning statement: "Despite the loss of the pub, this would not significantly disadvantage the

local community as there are other pubs nearby.

"The benefits of the scheme in helping to provide a number of much needed small units of accommodation ... would significantly outweigh the loss of the pub."

It adds: "Overall, the proposal would provide significant social benefits (via the provision of much needed homes including affordable housing contribution) and economic benefits (through the construction process and support of local services in the town due to the increased number of residents) and without any significant environmental harms.

"Therefore ... the application is recommended for approval."

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's Planning Committee will have the final say on the application at a meeting on Thursday next week (12th November).

To see the application and its supporting documents in full, visit the relevant page of the council's planning portal here.

To see the meeting's agenda and its documents in full, click here.