A Blacon pub will be demolished to make way for 21 affordable homes, if a planning application gets the green light.

The derelict Highfield Pub at the corner of Saughall Road and Western Avenue has stood empty since the last pint was pulled in 2013.

Sanctuary Housing previously submitted a planning application for a two-three storey block of 38 apartments on the site but this was withdrawn last November on grounds it was unlikely to be approved.

Related story: Previous plan for Blacon pub

An alternative 21-homes scheme with one, two and three-bedrooms, private amenity space, car parking and landscaping has now been lodged with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC).

An aerial view showing the area covered by plans to demolish The Highfield pub in Western Avenue, Blacon, to make way for 21 affordable homes.

The accompanying document concludes: “Taking into account the site’s constraints and opportunities, the illustrative lay-out responds positively and sympathetically to its immediate neighbours. The scheme will provide much needed housing with associated landscape and ecological improvements.”

Previously there were rumours that the 50-year-old pub could be turned into a Tesco Express but the supermarket later said it had no interest in the site.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said in a statement posted in a report on the Chester and South Clwyd branch website: “Purpose-built estate pubs such as the Highfield, which are predominantly wet-led, are evidently most vulnerable to cheap supermarket booze but it still seems staggering that an area the size of Blacon now only has the Waggon and Horses still open.

“We’re sure the communities affected lament their passing.”

Plans have been lodged to demolish The Highfield pub in Western Avenue, Blacon, to make way for 21 affordable homes (inset shows previous plan).

The latest scheme was mentioned at the recent Blacon Community Forum.

Comments both for and against must be offered by April 29. Local councillors have issued a ‘call in’ notice to CWaC meaning the application must be decided by committee and have requested no decisions are made without the involvement of ward members.

This is an ‘in principle’ outline planning application with little detail on the design at the moment.

Ward councillor Reggie Jones said in a round-robin email: “As Blacon councillors we will keep residents informed when further information is released. Sanctuary have confirmed to us they will be holding further consultation when detailed plans are released.”