A proposal to demolish a village pub and replace it with seven houses has been approved.

The planning application to redevelop The Pig and Whistle pub in Stotfold was given the green light by Central Bedfordshire Council planners last week.

The scheme will provide five three-bedroom homes and two four-bedroom homes together with parking for 20 cars, private gardens and a village style access road with street trees.

A spokesman for the developers said: “The Pig and Whistle, in common with many pubs in such locations, has suffered a massive economic decline, and is now no longer viable.

“The pub is alien in appearance and scale to the street and offers nothing to the character of the area, unlike some of the other nearby pubs, which are older cottage style establishments.

“The stripping away of the very poor quality existing building, the need to repair and reinforce the quality and fabric of the organic matrix of the surrounding area, the client’s desire to create a new residential scheme which then presents a low key but informed and coherent face to Brook Street and a hidden heart have all been the focus of the scheme.”

To find out more about the application visit the planning pages via www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.