PLANS to bring an East Oxford pub back into use have been unveiled, after a bid to convert it into housing was blocked.

Woodchester Estates Limited has applied for planning permission to build two homes next to the Chester Arms in Chester Street.

As part of the proposal, the pub will be reopened, despite claims made last year by owner Woodchester Estates that it was unviable as a business.

The developer, which had its bid to convert the building into a house thrown out by councillors last year, wants to build the two homes on part of the garden and land made available by demolishing the pub’s kitchen.

The Chester Arms closed in July 2012, and Woodchester Estates initially claimed it was no longer viable as a business, and launched a bid to convert it.

But members of the city council’s east area planning committee refused planning permission in November.

The new application has sparked a mixed response from neighbours.

Chester Street resident Jude Thorp said: “I think they’re making the best of a bad job. I think we’ve got to move with the times, and if they build two houses there, we won’t even notice after a year. It sounds like they’re going to create a really nice pub and open it at 9am for the mums to have coffee. I think we’ll get a good pub out of it and the two houses will have their own parking.”

But Argyle Street resident George Warne, 72, said: “Food is a big thing for pubs these days. They need a proper kitchen if the pub’s going to keep going.”

A report to planners on behalf of the applicant said: “As a result of the recent refusal of planning permission for the change of use of the public house and the feedback that was received from local residents to that application, the applicant decided to look again at the option of retaining the public house with the development of two houses on part of the site.”

No-one from Woodchester Estates was available to comment.