A FORMER village pub is set to make way for new homes.

Six homes are proposed for the site of the Weir Hotel public house in Burnley Road, Weir.

The pub has been closed for several years, having first been marketed by Trevor Dawson, the commercial property consultant, in January 2013, but is now set for demolition.

And Cllr Paul Sheen believes it could be good news.

He said: “It has been a derelict building for some time.

“It is a trend that people do not own pubs as some of them are not viable nowadays.

“New housing will only benefit and enhance the area.

“It will provide houses for people who want to stay in Weir and then also some fresh blood who may be interested in living there.”

Meanwhile, Cllr James Eaton said: “It has been a bit of a blight and untidy building and when an application goes before the planning committee, I will look at the comments of local residents.

“The building has been empty for a number of years and another application went in a year ago but was withdrawn.

“It will put some value on the surrounding properties and hopefully brighten up the area.”

The applicant is Mr J Lancaster, who applied last year for seven houses on the site.

The new plans include: three, three-property homes are on the same position as the Weir Hotel, which will be two-storeys in height and then there are three homes on the area of the former car parking south of the hotel.

It differs to the previous plan where it was proposed for four-two and three bed bungalows in the southern portion of the site

In the documents supplied with an application for planning permission to Rossendale Council say there is little prospect of the pub reopening.

It said: “Save the need to justify the loss of a community facility in the public house via evidence to demonstrate that the existing use can no longer be retained.”