PLANS to diversify a country pub and open rooms in a rundown outbuilding have been met with criticism.

A former coach house building at The Dove Inn, Micheldever Station, is proposed to be converted into five letting rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom.

The proposal has been submitted by pub owner and former Winchester city councillor Kim Gottlieb, under his company Lochstill Ltd.

It would see the demolition and re-creation of the coach house, which sits behind the pub, to create accommodation, along with a terrace.

The proposal also states that there would be reconfiguration of parking and external seating areas.

But the application has drawn criticism from neighbouring residents who have aired their objections to the city council.

They have raised particular concern about the existing sewage treatment plant (STP) for Brunel Close and the pub, which they say already cannot cope.

Aaron Brown, of Brunel Close, said: “The plans submitted only make a passing mention of a proposal to install pub’s own sewage treatment system, there are no details. We on Brunel Close are fully aware of the issues we have had with our own failing sewage treatment plant, and personally I am worried that the planning application does not have this nailed down

Others also fear that if the plan is approved there would be an increase in noise from those using the accommodation

Julia Wood, also of Brunel Close, objected to the application and said: “House numbers 4 to 13 in Brunel Close and two houses in Ellis Drive form a natural amphitheatre around the pub car park, due to the natural elevation of our properties. Current noise from the car park is already amplified due to this, and voices can resonate into our bedroom windows. The plan to site these letting rooms even closer to our back gardens will mean more noise, and whereas locals know to use soft voices when in the car park late at night, guest will not. The current rooms let out in the main building are ideal, as guests use the front door and can go straight to bed from the bar."

Mr Gottlieb and the application has stated that “the additional letting rooms would improve the viability of the Inn, once things return to normal”.

He said to the Chronicle: “The pub industry has been in some difficulty for some time, even before Covid, it has been experiencing a tough old time and so we have had the idea of creating some more letting rooms to expand that facility at a later date, also creating more options.

“The building has been derelict for some time, and it makes sense to make beneficial use out of it. The building has not been doing anything and we have tried to find a good use for it.”

Mr Gottlieb has assured residents that as part of the plan a new STP will be installed solely for the pub.