A Bollington pub is set to be converted into two houses following its closure at the start of the pandemic.

The proposals to transform The Crown pub on Church Street into new homes received final approval from Cheshire East planners last week.

The property owner, GB 1 Ltd, also intends to demolish some of the outbuildings to the rear of the property.

James Eccles, the agent applying on behalf of the owner, wrote in the design statement: "The existing building was required to close as a public house in March 2020 due to the restrictions in place following the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The public house has remained closed since March and the building (including the first-floor residential accommodation) is vacant.

"The premises are in need of extensive refurbishment to both the public house and the first-floor residential accommodation."

Two three-bedroom houses will take the place of the pub, and the existing dwelling, both with open plan kitchen and living areas which will open onto gardens with bi-fold doors.

The agent said that most of the works will be internal with "minimum intervention to the external appearance of the building".

One of the outbuildings to the rear will be retained to create a "summer house" for one of the homes, while the remainder will be demolished.

The current pub entrance on Church Street will be retained for one of the houses with the other houses' entrance off Ingersley Vale.

Mr Eccles said: "The conversion of the building into two dwellings represents a sustainable form of development, will result in significant investment in this building, and will ensure the long term preservation of the heritage asset."

Councillors approved the application with several conditions applied, including the provision of parking; details of materials used to be provided to planning officers; details of bin storage and that the development begins within three years.