PLANS to turn a Grade II-listed village pub into three new homes have been given the go ahead.

The Weardale Inn, in Ireshopeburn, Weardale, is an 19th Century building that was originally opened as a schoolhouse in 1854.

Planning permission was requested in March this year to turn the pub into three large houses, and has this month been approved.

The pub is now listed for sale with a guide price of £500,000 after being previously listed for auction with a starting bid of £250,000.

Councillor Anita Savory of Durham County Council said the planning application is a sign of the times.

“It’s sad to see the Weardale Inn close as a public house because at one point, going back a few years, it was the place to be," she said.

"Bus loads of people travelled to go there, but it is a sign of the times,” she said.

“It’s sad that we are losing another facility in the dale, I know that the people of Weardale are sad to see it go.”

The Weardale Inn was formerly The Rancho del Rio, known as The Ranch, and locals frequently visited for darts and dominoes nights.

Ken Heatherington, of The Weardale Museum, also in Ireshopeburn, said: “It’s not ideal, but The Weardale Inn has not been viable for three or four years I would say, at least. The previous owners have not managed to make a go of it.”

David Heatherington, curator at The Weardale Museum, added: “It’s better than it standing empty, it has struggled as a pub in the past.

“Any loss of amenity is a loss for the village, it would have been nice for it to stay open, but these are difficult times at the moment for pubs and restaurants.”

The application was published on the Durham County Council website but attracted no objections or letters of support from local residents.

Durham Wildlife Services conducted nocturnal assessments and found that bats were roosting on the site during the summer.

To ensure that the bats are not affected by any work, plans are in place for several bat boxes to be positioned in trees.

A statement published by the council reads: “The application was considered by the council and it has been agreed that permission should be granted.”

To view the full planning application visit publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications and search for reference DM/14/00851/LB