PLANS to give a new lease of life to a former pub will be discussed at a meeting tonight.

The proposals would see the former Junction Hotel pub in Rosegrove Lane, Burnley, turned into four houses.

If given the go-ahead, the former public house, which ceased trading in 2015, would be converted into three two-bedroom homes and one three-bedroom home.

Letters of objection were sent to Burnley Council on the grounds of lack of parking in the area and the loss of a pub.

Within the planning document, a spokesman on behalf of the applicant said it was not a viable proposition to bring the site back as a pub.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s real ale expert, Mark Briggs, said pubs closing across the land have been down to a change of culture.

He said: “It is sad to see. The corner street pub has been diminishing over the years.

“Its roughly 20 pubs a week that close, which has dropped from 26 a few years ago.

“It’s good to see the building could be used for something else, it has been vacant for two years or so.

“Drinking habits have changed and young people no longer go to the pub at 7pm on a Friday like I used to. Cheap supermarket beer, expensive rents and attitudes towards drink have had the impact on the pub.”

The proposals include each house having its own yard.

A Lancashire County Council highways spokesman said they did not have any objections but were concerned with access to the back of the house to store and collect refuse.

In a planning document, a spokesman on behalf of the applicant said: “This proposal seeks to bring back into use a vacant building and provide the local area with four terraced properties that will improve the appearance of the building and improve the amenity of neighbourhood properties.

“When the pub was in use it would have had a negative effect on the surrounding area in regard to noise and late-night disturbance that is associated with this type of venue.

“The change of use of the public house would in fact improve residential amenity as they would not have a public house located in very close proximity and there would also be a reduction in crime.

“Bus stops and Burnley train station are located nearby therefore being able to access services and facilities easily.”

The plans will be discussed at the council’s development control committee meeting at 6.30pm.