A PUB is pushing on with plans to build housing on its car park, despite a knock-back from councillors.

Greene King, which owns the Anchor in Cambridge Road, Hitchin, wants to build three houses at the back of the pub, build a new car park on nearby land and reduce the size of the pub’s beer garden.

Its plans were turned down by North Herts District Council’s (NHDC) planning committee last year, but the chain has now lodged an appeal against that decision.

A Greene King spokesman said: “We are now using our right to appeal against the planning committee’s decision not to grant planning permission on land adjacent to the pub.

“The proposed scheme relates only to the land and it is intended that the Anchor will continue to operate as a pub.”

The chain wants to build three, three-bedroom houses on the land – one detached and a semi-detached pair – with a car barn and access.

It also wants to change gardens at the back of residential properties on Cambridge Road into a car park.

NHDC councillors initially refused the scheme because they said the location was “unsatisfactory”.

There were also concerns it would impact on the nearby Purwell Meadow nature reserve, blocking residents’ views of the Green Belt beauty spot.

Mary Caldwell, NHDC’s development and conservation manager, said: “NHDC has received an appeal against the decision taken in October 2012 to refuse the planning application to build three houses within the grounds of the Anchor public house in Hitchin.

“A decision on the appeal is likely to be made later in the summer by the planning inspectorate.”