Three new cottages could be built in Frieth in a bid to provide enough money for a much-loved village pub to be refurbished and reopened.

Marlow-based architects, Heighway Associates, have paired up with the landlord of The Yew Tree, Carlos Maidana, and submitted plans for three new homes and parking in the grounds of the pub, on Frieth Hill. 

In 2014 the once thriving pub – which served the village for 160 years – was rescued from the hands of developers after the community launched a ‘Save Our Pub’ campaign.

It was swiftly bought by Frieth resident Mr Maidana who turned around The Grouse and Ale in Lane End in the face of its closure.

The new plans, for a pair of three-bed semi-detached cottages and one detached three-bed cottage, which have been submitted to Wycombe District Council, have garnered support from the village.

Antony Poots, who lives on Frieth Hill, said the pub is a “much-needed hub for our community” while Tzigane Hill, from Lane End, said the site is “very important” to the people of Frieth.

She said: “It should be the heart of the village but for the last few years it's looked very sad and empty and needs life put back into it.

“The children of Frieth school had their Christmas lunches there every year, parents would keep warm by the fire on cold nights when the children had events at school and parents and local villagers could get together for coffee or meals and New Year’s Eve was always great fun.

“It really has been missed and if the approval of the site behind the pub means the pub has a chance to re-open then we really hope it will be approved.”

Mr Maidana said £415,000 is needed for the refurbishment, which will include updating the plumbing, renewing the toilets, replacing central heating, installing a bar and cellar and rebuilding the kitchen.

A new orchard and a herb and vegetable garden to provide fresh ingredients for the pub would also be created.

However, some residents have raised concerns about parking, with Merelina Tebbot, who lives in Sprurgrove Lane, saying more space for visitors would be needed in future.

She said: “If the pub proves to be successful considerably more car parking would be needed than is to be provided, both for staff and for customers.

“This would either mean cars parking outside on the road, or overflowing into the land behind the proposed houses.

“It would be extremely unsatisfactory to have cars parked outside the pub as the road is very narrow at that point and it would be very difficult for emergency vehicles or large lorries such as oil tankers to get through.”

Earlier plans to redevelop the pub were rejected by Wycombe District Council, who said it would be “overdevelopment.”

A decision is expected to be made by WDC by Wednesday, December 21.