A boarded-up pub in Yatton could make way for nine homes.

The Prince of Orange, in High Street, closed last year and planning permission is being sought to convert it into three homes, with a further six to be built within its grounds.

Planning permission was granted for four homes within the grounds last year, but permission for a larger development is now being requested.

The application has been submitted by iTech Homes, which wants to transform the pub into two three-bedroom and one four-bedroom home. The six houses within the pub’s grounds would all have three bedrooms.

In a planning statement, iTech Homes said: “(We) seek to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the building, including the removal of past unsympathetic alterations and additions.

“Inside the grade II-listed building there are few original features.

“Most original features have been stripped out and replaced with fittings associated with the public house. It is proposed that the modern additions will be removed.”

It adds the project will not ‘harm the overall character of the village’.

Villagers have offered a mixed reaction to the proposals.

Yatton has been a big target of housing developers in recent years. More than 500 will be built at North End around Arnolds Way and other sites are also earmarked, including near the train station and at Oxford Instruments’ base.

The loss of a pub within the village is mourned by some, but many realise it was never likely to reopen. The pub was put up for sale at the start of the year by Enterprise Inns, with an asking price of £650,000.

But the prospect of increased traffic is causing serious concern over High Street safety on social media.

Since the pub closed, homeowners living in the vicinity of the Prince of Orange have been unable to stop overnight in the company’s car park, as was permitted. It has meant more cars parking in the narrow High Street, and partly blocking Yatton’s busiest road.

And some villagers fear the extra nine houses will mean more cars having to park on the main road as iTech’s scheme does not allow parking spaces for visitors.