A beloved village pub could be turned into cottages.

Horns Lodge in South Chailey, north of Lewes, was a cornerstone of the community but it has been left empty since it closed in 2019.

Now, developer Planet Properties wants to turn the former pub into four terraced cottages with two bedrooms each. 

There are plans to turn the disused "informal" parking space in front of the pub into lawns, while space at the side of the building would be turned into eight parking bays for residents. 

"This development proposal represents an appropriate form of development for the site having taken into account the site context including the surrounding relationship of buildings and matters of accessibility," planning consultants Chelsea Consultants said, on behalf of Planet Properties. 

"The site benefits from views towards open countryside and is well screened by existing tree and hedge cover to the south and east facing boundary sides and is separated by a 6ft timber fence to the northern boundary with adjacent Horns Lodge Cottage."

A drawing of what the four cottages could look likeA drawing of what the four cottages could look like (Image: Lewes District Council)READ MORE: Pub and house could be knocked down to build retirement homes

Planners said the cottages would be in a style which "reflects surrounding buildings" and which are "clearly identifiable as typical of a Sussex village and with matching existing bricks and tiles".

Currently, the pub is in a sorry state, with windows and doors boarded up and graffiti on the facade.

In 2019, residents campaigned to raise money to save it but were unable to do so.

Horns Lodge featured in the video for a 2019 campaign called Long Live The Local and regulars described how much the pub meant to the community.

"If there’s a power cut, you head to the pub. If there’s a snowstorm, you head to the pub. If you’ve run out of anything, you head to the pub," one resident said.

On TripAdvisor, visitors to the pub said before it closed described it as "warm and welcoming" with "lovely food and friendly staff". 

The plans, submitted to Lewes District Council, are open for consultation until Friday, October 18.