Amended plans have been submitted to convert a historic building close to one of Britain's oldest pubs into short term lets, after a previous application was thrown out.

Recon Asset Management has made an application to Cheshire West and Chester Council to change of use of The Granary, a Grade II-listed, two-storey building off Smithy Lane in Little Leigh.

Dating back to around 1844, The Granary, alongside other buildings known as the Barn and Bungalow were historically part of wider premises and offered overnight accommodation near the now closed Grade II listed Holly Bush Inn, which dates back to the 17th century.

All the buildings on the site form part of the Bartington Conservation Area, and the pub building itself is classed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

A previous application for The Granary was refused by Cheshire West in April last year, with officers citing ‘insufficient information’ to demonstrate the proposal would not undermine the retention of the pub, which represented a community facility within the rural area.

A subsequent appeal was dismissed by an independent planning inspector in August due to concerns over impact on biodiversity.

Concerns had been raised by council planners last time that part of the proposed parking was in an orchard which was part of the ACV area, even though the Granary itself was not.

But a fresh application has now been submitted with amendments aimed at addressing those concerns. The applicant said the new proposed location, arrangement and access route to the proposed car parking spaces have now been changed to remove the need to undertake any work to existing vegetation or trees on the site or within the immediate area.

And if approved, the scheme would see a change of the building from five en-suite bedrooms into independent letting accommodation, along with self-contained owner/manager accommodation.

A planning document submitted in support of the scheme, said: "The removal of the requirement to undertake any clearance works as part of this planning application removes the requirement for any ecology surveys to be undertaken.

"The retention of existing vegetation and trees to the side of The Granary compared to the previous application is a material benefit. All matters raised by the planning inspector in the refused appeal decision are deemed to be satisfied by the revised proposals."

The plans can be vowed on the council planning portal under the following reference: 24/02704/FUL.