PROPOSALS to demolish a 400-year-old pub have been approved in order to make way for apartments for over 55s.

The site of the Boars Head Inn, Ewloe will now largely be taken up by a new three-storey building, which will be prioritised for people with mobility issues.

The plans went before politicians for a second time on Wednesday after they were deferred in November because of concerns about the appearance of the development.

Joint applicants Anwyl Construction and Pennaf Housing chose to redesign the structure in order to address the issues raised and the application was recommended for approval by Flintshire Council officers.

The majority of councillors agreed that the revised submissions, which included a pitched roof rather than a flat roof, were more attractive despite some outstanding objections.

Speaking at a meeting at County Hall in Mold, committee member Cllr Kevin Hughes (Ind) thanked the developers for responding to the criticism.

He said: “To be fair, they’ve listened to us and amended their design.

“I would caution that our job as a planning committee isn’t to comment on the design of the building, but whether it meets the planning regulations.

“I don’t see that we can argue against it on the grounds that have been put forward.

“It’s 100 per cent affordable and there’s a clear and identified need for social housing for the over 55s.”

Previous attempts to have the pub listed have proved unsuccessful despite it being recognised by the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Buildings in Wales as a rare example of a purpose-built inn.

It includes a later-built extension, which was used to collect tolls from the nearby road.

A the meeting community members said they still had concerns about the plans to replace it.

Joyce Angel, who sits on Hawarden Community Council, said she was unhappy at the prospect of the scheme moving ahead because of road safety.

She said: “The proposed block of flats is so far removed from what is around it and it is totally alien to the surrounds.

“When finished it would create the impression of a tunnel atmosphere along the road to Buckley.

“With this proposal we would be adding an additional hazard in the form of the access from the B5127.

“This proposal I can’t see as an asset to our village, only a pending disaster.”

The majority of councillors chose to vote in favour of the proposals.

In total 28 apartments and three affordable houses will be built on the site.