Plans to turn the Kings Arms in Kingsbridge into a venue and residential units has been approved by South Hams District Council.

The plans, submitted by Derry Owen Architects on behalf of Luke Winham of London, are to change the hotel into commercial space on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floors, with two more homes built in the car park.

Two one-bed, ten two-bed and one three-bed flats will be created, two of which, one one-bed and one two-bed, will be created by building an additional building in the car park. The car parking spaces that currently exist around the Kings Arms will be retained.

In the application, a Derry Owen Architects representative said: “The site has considerable historical and communal value. It is also an attractive building, especially the Georgian façade to Fore Street with its generous bay windows, cornice and columns flanking the front entrance.

“The Kings Arms is now in quite poor condition in places, partly as a result of water ingress, and partly the cumulative effect of a low-grade 20th century alterations. This, together with the fact that the building has lain empty for some years, leads to the inevitable conclusion that this is a building at risk.

“It is therefore essential that a long-term viable use is found for the building and considerable investment in repairs and refurbishment will be inevitable.

“The building lends itself well to conversion into apartments with minimal harm to its layout and historic fabric. The proposed works will provide a way to preserve an important historic and community asset as well as provide much needed new homes for the town.”