Approved plans to convert a village pub into a residential home have left some residents divided.

Plans were lodged in July to convert the former Duke of York Inn in Grindleton, a Grade II-listed building which has not been used as a pub since 2017.

Those plans laid out that the pub is “not a viable business” and the proposal to change the use of the building to a home will provide it with “optimal viable use.”

Third-party responses lodged with Ribble Valley Borough Council saw opinions on the move split.

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One said: “While I would have loved to see this property restored as an asset to the village, realistically I can see this is financially untenable and I would rather see it converted to residential than left as an eyesore.”

Another with similar thoughts said: “Put simply, the choice is now between having a fully renovated Grade II-listed private house in good order with nice gardens and an attractive aspect as you drive into our village, as it is now deteriorating into what will ultimately become a real eyesore.”

However, others felt the building should be used to provide facilities for the community.

One person said: “The village is keen to have the site brought back to its previous level and providing facilities for the village.

“I therefore do not support this application as it does not provide what the village desires and does not maintain a key building in the village and its history.”

Another person said they were happy to support previous plans for the building but not the conversion into a house.

They said: “I had attended a public meeting where he [the applicant] asked for support to convert the premises into bed and breakfast accommodation, retain the bar and build a café.

“We were more than happy to support him in this venture as it would have benefitted the village and surrounding area.”

A planning statement submitted to the council did reference the fact that planning permission and listed building consent was obtained to “widen the potential income streams” by using the building as a café alongside the pub and a B&B, but “a suitable buyer was not found.”

Grindleton residents have previously spent months campaigning under the Grindleton Community Pub Group to have one of their two former pubs, the Duke of York or the Buck Inn, reopened to serve the community after they both closed around five years ago.

Since then, a new pub, the Rum Fox, has opened at the site of the Buck Inn on Sawley Road.

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In a response to the council, Grindleton Parish Council also raised their objections, saying: “It is believed that the village and its conversation area would be best served by maintaining the premises for some fort of community use.

“Members would contest the assertion that any sale of the premises is “unviable”, believing that multiple other buyers have already expressed their interest.

“Should consent for change of use be granted, concerns regarding the traffic/road safety implications arising from the proposed design still remain.”

Ribble Valley Council approved the changes subject to conditions. Work must begin with the three-year expiration period.

To view the plans in full, visit the council’s planning website.