A family has been given permission by planners to turn a recently closed pub into their home.

Lea and Sara Carter bought the Plough Inn in Lechlade Road, Highworth, from its previous owners Arkell’s Brewery.

One of the conditions of the sale was that the Carters did not use the building for the sale of alcohol.

Now their plans to convert the building - which was originally two cottages, one with a half-timbered front which was the pub itself, and the other being the landlord’s accommodation – into a single-family home has been approved.

And their inclusion of a letter quoting the brewery saying the pub was unprofitable, partly because of the “steep competition from other public houses and establishments serving alcohol, including their own, within Highworth” seems to have helped.

The report by Swindon Borough Council planners recommending approval said: “Whilst the 12-month marketing requirement has not been strictly met by the application submission, given the current and recent economic climate and pub trading conditions, the local planning authority is willing to take a more flexible approach on this matter at this time.

“This accords with the approach taken in relation to The Fox Inn where planning permission was also granted for the change of use of the pub to residential accommodation.

In the case of this current application, on balance, it is considered the evidence supplied with the application would be sufficient and is sufficient to justify the loss of the pub use in this location.”

The submitted plans show that the bar will be used as the main living room for the new house, and the six bedrooms, ranging across the upper storey across the two buildings, and two bathrooms would be retained.

The plans do not suggest changes to the ground floor which still includes a keg room and a back bar and large pub toilet block.

The property comes with a detached barn which was used as storage for the pub.

The inn closed in March 2023 less than a year after it was taken over by landlord Michael Soule, who took it on from Dan Uzzell in August 2022.