New homes could still be built next to an empty village pub despite it failing to sell at auction.

The move by George Windsor would see two two-bed homes built on land to the rear of the vacant Red Lion pub and its car park in Holt Heath near Worcester.

The pub, off the village’s Witley Road, closed nearly three years ago and has remained empty since.

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The empty pub went under the hammer last month but did not fetch the minimum asking price and remains on the market for £475,000.

Malvern Hills District Council is still looking for views on the plans with a week left before consultation closes.

The layout of the two homes was changed slightly meaning the deadline for a decision was extended.

Several plans for the pub have been put forward since it closed in November 2020 and at one stage it looked as though the once-popular watering hole would be torn down to make way for housing.

However, planners at Malvern Hills District Council rejected the demolition plan saying the pub was an important community asset that needed protecting but did approve a separate plan that would see the pub renovated alongside new en-suite bedrooms.

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The refurbishment plans for the pub include eight revamped bedrooms with ensuites and a new entrance. A 34-space car park was also expected to be built.

In turning down the demolition plan, the council said the owners should be marketing the building as a pub properly before it decides to make any drastic changes to the site.

The council’s planning officers said the negatives of the plan “significantly outweighed” the positives.

Holt Parish Council said it would like to see the Red Lion reopen but was not against new development on the site and it felt six homes was too many, adding that the application seemed “rushed.”

The pub closed in November 2020 with the departing landlords saying they were walking away from their dream after little over a year, having experienced ’12 months of hell.’

You can have your say on the plans by visiting MHDC’s website. The application number is M/23/00341/FUL and consultation ends on August 14.