A Thetford pub shut for nearly 18 months could see its top floor converted into flats and a brand new house built in its back garden.

Plans for the first floor of the Kings Head pub on White Hart Street, which closed in 2017, to be converted into three one bedroom flats have been submitted to Breckland District Council.

The proposals include plans to build a new three bedroom town house in the back garden of the pub and to renovate the outhouse into a three bedroom house which will front onto Thomas Paine Avenue.

In the design and access statement the developers, Luba Ltd Building Services, states the outhouse does not have a permanent roof and has partially collapsed.

They add that the ground floor of the pub is likely to be kept as a pub, giving nearby residents the hope of the Kings Head reopening as a pub in the future.

The statement said: “Private car parking would be provided to the rear together with private garden areas/amenity space for the houses. The area would also accommodate refuse and recycling storage, and secure cycle storage.

“It is proposed that the upper floors are converted to three self-contained one-bedroom flats at first floor level and three self - contained one-bedroom flats within the loft space of the property.

“The proposed scheme is to retain and refurbish the Grade II public house. The ground floor is intended to remain in its existing current commercial use format.”

The Grade II listed pub dates back to the early 18th century and was originally used as a coaching inn.

The statement adds: “It would restore a statutory listed building that is currently vacant, retain an appropriate ground floor use and introduce residential use to the upper floor and the remainder of the site.

“The development would contribute positively to the townscape and would enhance and preserve the conservation area.”

There is, however, no indication as to the extent of any refurbishment work to the ground floor of the pub itself nor when or whether the pub will reopen to the public.

What do you think about the plans for the Kings Head? Email conor.matchett@archant.co.uk with your thoughts.