PLANS have been unveiled to covert a pub which has lain empty for more than three years into a house.

The bid for the Queen’s Hotel in Berechurch Road, Colchester, has been submitted to Colchester Council.

The pub has not been open since May 2018 when the last tenant decided to shut its doors.

Now an application to change the use of the building from a pub to a house has been submitted.

Planning documents submitted to the council say no-one has come forward to buy or lease the site with the intention of keeping it as a pub.

The document said: “The Queen’s Hotel has not had any significant trade since it was placed on the market leasehold in 2016 and has proven hard to find a suitable tenant or freehold buyer to continue licence use.

“The area is well served by other trading pubs such as The Britannia, Grapes and The Odd One Out.

“The Queen’s Hotel isn’t suited to passing trade as it has no car park and with parking restrictions directly in front of the pub.

“It has no significant trading areas or garden space in order for it to compete within the 21st century pub market.

“Given the current situation regarding Covid-19, in our opinions it is unlikely that such properties as this will ever be attractive enough to reopen and become a community asset.”

In recent years the pub has twice been the victim of arson attacks.

It was completely gutted by arsonists in November 2017 and had to be repaired.

Just months later outbuildings at the pub were set on fire, but luckily it did not spread to the main building.

The application said the incidents had halted marketing before the owners decided to sell the freehold.

Colchester Council will have the final say on the plans.

To comment on the plans visit www.colchester.gov.uk and search application number 200720.