A FORMER pub was given the green light to be covered into apartments for the retired and a public team room last Thursday.

Plans are in motion to demolish and redevelop the old Jolly Farmer pub in Yorktown Road in Sandhurst, with an application for 42 flats put in by developers Renaissance Retirement.

An earlier project was rejected in 2014 after planning officers decided the development would be too overbearing and would put too much pressure on local community facilities.

Construction will start later this year as the proposals now have the go ahead.

Planning Director, Peter Tanner, said: "Support for our scheme has been positive from locals as well as potential buyers. This is an ideal site for sheltered housing being within a short walk of local shops and a Waitrose supermarket. If granted planning permission we will build a development that the town will be proud of.

"Judging by the responses we received to an earlier public exhibition, local people welcome the opportunity to replace the derelict Jolly Farmer pub with a well-designed building in its place. The scheme will provide attractively landscaped gardens and managed wooded areas within the site. These areas together with a small stream that traverses the north east corner of the site will be regularly maintained by Renaissance’s landscape team.

"We are aware from occupiers of neighbouring properties that in the recent past lack of maintenance of the stream has led to localised surface water flooding. The regular maintenance of the grounds by our landscape team and the professionally designed storm water drainage system to serve the development will avoid these problems to the benefit of people living in neighbouring Fairmead Close."

An international-themed tea room is also part of the development.

Concerns have however been raised by neighbours about flooding and increased traffic.

One Fairmead Close resident, Graham Bird, wrote: "My primary objection to the development is that the building is too large for the footprint as a three storey building in this location would be detrimental to the existing village feel of College Town.

"My secondary objection is on the basis that there would be an increased volume of traffic as well as causing parking issues to local residents.

"Also I would state there is an abundance of sheltered housing available locally. One development currently ongoing is the building of a retirement village in Yateley which consists of 78 apartments."