PERMISSION has been granted to transform a Stamfordham pub into three terraced homes.

In spite of objections from the parish council and local residents, the Bay Horse pub will soon be converted into houses.

The Grade II listed building was bought five years ago by Tynedale businessman Semore Kurdi, who also runs the Angel of Corbridge.

A season of financial losses saw it officially close in November 2014.

And with no buyer after over a year on the market, Mr Kurdi submitted a planning application to convert the pub into three homes. The building will be divided into three homes, with modern extensions removed to create outdoor space.

Stamfordham Parish Council and a number of local residents objected to the plans, arguing that there was inadequate provision for car parking and vehicular access.

The county council’s highways authority also described the parking as ‘unsuitable’ and recommended refusal of the application.

Revised plans were then submitted, showing amended plans for parking.

Planning officer Tamsin Wood reported that the highways authority now had no objections.

She added: “Given that there is another public house a short distance from the site which is currently open, it is not considered that the use of the property as three dwellings would have an adverse impact on the vitality of Stamfordham.”

The application was granted permission on January 13, with a number of conditions regarding conserving original features of the building, and protecting local wildlife, specifically bats.

However Stamfordham Parish Council feels that its concerns were ignored.

At last week’s parish council meeting, chairman Coun. Edward Trevelyan said: “Looking at the plan the car parking bays are still extremely narrow. They have ignored the things we mentioned about recyling bins and re-surfacing the grassed area.

“They just seem to ignore what we say; they don’t seem to have the courtesy to write back to us.”