A WIRRAL pub, where last orders were called many years ago, is to get a new lease of life as a community day centre with studio flats above.

The Leasowe Castle Hotel in Desmesne Street, Seacombe, is an attractive building which is falling into repair.

Funding for the transformation has been secured  from the Government's Empty Homes Initiative that aims to bring empty private sector homes and commercial properties to be brought back into use as affordable housing.

Planners, who have recommended approval of the scheme, insist the building would benefit from investment.

They claim the proposed community centre was considered an appropriate use adjacent to a residential development  and it  would not create any detrimental change to the character  of the area. Nor would it cause nuisance to the neighbourhood by way of noise and disturbance.

They pointed out in a report to next week’s Wirral planning committee that the Leasowe Castle Hotel had been empty for "a significant period of time" and that without funding it was likely to remain empty.

Wirral’s strategic housing market assessment sets out a requirement for an extra 2,120 new build homes in Wirral's inner area and a need for a further 1,271 affordable homes.

Planners comment: “This development will help provide additional smaller homes which people affected by welfare and benefit reforms will be able to access. As such the proposal will bring a vacant property back into use to provide additional affordable homes to meet local needs."

Each of the 10 studio flats will have their own mini-kitchen and en-suite bathroom. The development will provide 10 off-street parking spaces.