A developer with eyes on transforming an historic Cirencester public house and turning it into flats could get its way next week.

Cheltenham-based CDMC Properties Limited, run by the Vaughan family, has not given up on its ambitions to transform the hostelry into flats.

Cotswold District Council's planning committee blocked the company's bid to part demolish The Waggon and Horses Inn, London Road, and turn it into five flats.

Cirencester Town Council objected, saying there would be "detrimental loss to the vitality and viability" of the town centre, and the loss of the pub would "diminish" the Cotswold town's offering to visitors.

But CDMC Properties Limited remains determined and has filed new plans to turn the building into four two-bed flats and a one-bed flat.

"Following the refusal of application reference 18/04250/FUL at planning committee the applicant commissioned a second viability report to further investigate and ultimately provide evidence that the loss of the public house would not be detrimental to the vitality and viability of a part of the Cirencester central area, nor would it diminish the town's cultural and tourism offering without sufficient justification," said Alex Eatough, of Plainview Planning, Cheltenham, in a letter on behalf of CDMC to the district council's planning department.

Drawings have been done by RRA Architects, which also has offices in Cheltenham.

And this time around officers have recommended to their planning committee, due to meet on Tuesday, Sept 10, that the application be approved.

"The proposals have been carefully considered alongside both local and national policy to allow for an appropriate development to be proposed," said a design and access statement submitted to the district council by the developer.

"The site looks to blend in with the surrounding area and enhance, views into and out of the site and its setting."

Some objections have been received.

Charles Brown, of 45 South Cerney, said: "I wish to object to the proposed change of use of the Waggon and Horses for the following reasons: 1, Cirencester has few traditional pubs and fewer which are free houses. 2, Once converted there is no way it could return to a pub use. 3, The situation of the building makes it ideal for a hostelry. 4, There is a good function room at the rear - ideal for community/club meetings. 5, It has traded successfully as a public house in the past. 6, Pub use would provide employment for local people and students. 7, A well run and managed pub would actually attract visitors to the town. Many pubs have closed in the town in recent years, please do not add this one to the list."

The Waggon and Horses Inn has been closed since January 2018 when the previous tenants' lease expired.

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