AN AGREEMENT has been reached on the future of a derelict pub plagued by drugs and crime.

The Merrie England pub in Great Harwood has stood empty for several years and has been a magnet for vandalism and anti-social behaviour, making it a frequent priority for police patrols in the area.

Now plans have been approved to build apartments on the site while preserving part of the building.

The St Hubert’s Road building was also used to house a £250,000 cannabis factory with 1,500 plants ran by a Vietnamese gang in 2008.

Since then the decline of the building has been steady, with every window at the property broken.

The site’s owners wanted to demolish the pub for housing but became embroiled in a planning row with Hyndburn Council who said the building’s architecture was significant.

After a planning inspector ruled in favour of Hyndburn Council’s decision, the owners decided to meet council planners halfway.

A new plan, rubber stamped at Hyndburn’s planning committee, will see the frontage of the building retained with the back demolished and a new purpose-built rear created for flats. The scheme has been met wth relief by the area’s councillors.

Ward councillor Lynn Wilson said: “The residents in the area are understandably fed up with this eyesore, with the police being called there all the time to deal with kids.”

The scheme will retain the original facades to St Huberts Road and Clayton Street and will see eight one-bedroom apartments created.

The pub’s owners were unavailable for comment.