A PUB described as being “at the heart of a community” will be knocked down to make way for more than a dozen new homes.

Bury Council’s planning control committee tonight unanimously approved Contour Homes application to build 15 houses on the site of The Elizabethan in Ribble Drive, Whitefield.

The two and three-bedroom homes are described as "100 per cent affordable" and there will be a mix of semi-detached and terraced properties.

Planning officers advised members of the committee they were "minded to approve" the application on the condition Contour Homes agreed all the properties would be “affordable”, or made a financial contribution towards recreation facilities in the area.

Nobody spoke in opposition to the plans at the meeting, but the council did receive several written objections from residents of Ribble Drive and other nearby streets.

The loss of the pub as a social hub is cited by some who opposed the plans

One objector who wrote to the council said: "The pub is the heart of the community, a focal point would be the loss of another social place and eventually destroy the community."

Another who echoed those views added: "It provides a vital community service by promoting and celebrating local events statutory and legal holidays and festivals."

One resident also bemoaned the possible loss of their "local" adding that not many pubs were now left in the area.

Concerns over parking and traffic problems were also been raised.

"Residents facing the school will have problems with not being able to park outside their homes because there are three buildings - the school, the hub and a nursery – and people use the pub to park," said one objector.

While another added: “If there is no pub car park traffic parking will increase outside out house or an alternative would be resident only parking."

But before taking the vote, committee was told that, while one-space-per dwelling parking was below the maximum standards, it was deemed acceptable given the plans delivery of “much needed affordable housing” in the area.

The road will also be widened to allow visitor parking while also letting vehicles pass.

Other comments received by the council include querying why the homes cannot be built on the site of a former play-park nearby and concerns over the current residents of the pub who will "be made homeless".

Planning officers say the pub car park cannot be considered to be part of the council's planning provision, as it is private land.

They also add that retaining the pub as a community hub is not within the authorities control and that any convenants relating to the pub cannot be considered by the committee.

But there was one letter of support from a resident of Albert Road welcoming the "improved use of the land" and branding the site an "eyesore".