PLANS to turn a former Dovercourt pub into flats and a house have been given the greenlight.

A planning application to transform The Royal into eight apartments and a three-bedroom house was approved by Tendring Council.

The development will include the part demolition and extension of the former pub to enable its residential conversion into homes.

A total of 16 parking spaces and 14 cycle parking spaces will also be created as part of the scheme.

However, Rochelle Bird, of Manor Road, Dovercourt, lodged a comment to Tendring Council citing concerns over parking.

She said: "As a resident in Manor Road the parking is already atrocious with members of other roads parking down the street.

"Both members of my households work for NHS and finish late at night - with no where to park.

"With apartments now being the worry for parking is therefore increased.

"I have discussed with members of Manor Road and we would like permit parking to reduce this, or offer some protection for us residents to park down our own road and feel safe."

Harwich Town Council, on the other hand, had no objection to the application.

A statement from the council said: "Harwich Town Council has no objection to this application however would like the planning authority to notes concerns over the loss of another public house and that there appears to have been insufficient attempts made to preserve the business and community facility."

The Heritage Assessment, on Tendring Council's planning portal, stated the pub is a non-designated heritage asset of "low heritage significance".

It added: "The Royal is of very modest heritage significance, having no special historic or architectural interest.

"There is no evidence of a historic association with any renowned architect, brewery or patron, while the general design, form and appearance of the building is not of a rarity to set it apart from other arts and crafts influenced public houses of the interwar

period.

"The fact that the public house is no longer trading also diminishes what little historic interest it does possess."

The application came after owners of The Hanover Inn, in Harwich, and The Anchor Inn, in Mistley, sent plans to Tendring Council to turn their pubs into homes.

But the pubs have now been registered as assets of community value.