A NURSERY will be created in a disused village pub after plans were approved on appeal.

The Bull in Bellingdon, which served its last pint in 2009, will be turned into a nursery for children in neighbouring villages for the next three years after approval was finally given for the plans.

The proposals were originally turned down by Chiltern District Council last year on the grounds it would result in the loss of 'an important community facility'.

But a report from the Planning Inspectorate said: "While a public house may cater for a broader cross-section of the community, the proposed nursery use would, nonetheless, cater for the day-to-day needs of local parents with children and allow the nursery to develop.

"Overall I conclude that there would not be a loss of a community facility as a result of the proposed development."

A nursery group currently based at nearby Cholesbury Village Hall had asked if it would be possible to use the pub, as the hall has limited space and facilities.

At the conclusion of their three year tenancy the new-look building - which would include a flat on the first floor - would revert back to being used as a pub.

The Planning Inspectorate said: "The appellant, a local resident and employer, has made it clear that ultimately it is the intention to re-open the public house. As such, temporary permission for three years is sought so that income from the interim nursery use can help to finance initial works to re-open the public house.

"While I appreciate that no clear proposal or business plan for the re-opening of premises as a public house has been put forward and there is no guarantee that this will eventually happen, allowing the temporary use as a nursery would not prejudice the possibility."

Two previous applications to convert the boozer into housing were turned down following opposition from residents, but the plans to turn the building into a nursery received seven letters of support from parents whose children go to the group in Cholesbury.