Up to eight new houses will be built in Whitwick after the go-ahead was given to demolish The Oak pub.

The development is set to go ahead on Talbot Street after North West Leicestershire Council allowed the work to proceed.

An application from Ashby-based D & R Richards was submitted in May.

Now the council has agreed to it after an initial plan to build nine houses was reduced to up to eight following concerns from officers about over-development of the site.

A council report says: "In order to facilitate the proposed development, the existing public house (The Oak of Whitwick) would be demolished.

"The layout plan submitted in support of the application suggests that a new vehicular access onto Talbot Street would be formed, with the existing vehicular access closed off, and that the residential properties would be positioned with some fronting onto Talbot Street and the others facing in a south-eastern direction towards an area of open space which exists between Talbot Street and School Lane and the junctions of these roads with Brooks Lane."

The council has also defended the loss of one of the area's pubs.

The report adds: "It is also outlined in the viability report that the public house was marketed in 2013, at a local and national level, with the only interest being in relation to redevelopment proposals rather than the continued operation of the premises as a public house.

"In terms of other pubs within the surrounding area the viability report sets out that the following pubs which would serve the needs of the existing community.

"These include:

• The Black Horse - located approximately 0.55km from the site;
• The White Horse - located approximately 0.68km from the site; -
• The Hare and Hounds - located approximately 0.31km from the site;
• The Man Within Compass - located approximately 0.9km from the site;
• The Kings Arms - located approximately 0.76km from the site."

The report concludes: "It is considered that the site could be developed in a manner which would not appear out of keeping with the character and appearance of the surrounding locality.

"It is therefore recommended that the application be permitted."