AN HISTORIC East Oxford pub which has been derelict for 12 years is to be transformed into a restaurant.

The Coach and Horses, in St Clement’s Street, has been empty since 1999 and locals believe the neglected building has reflected badly on the area.

But developer Mike Saxby has now started the major renovation and hopes work to create a ground floor restaurant and three flats at the rear will be finished later this year.

Henry Venner, of Mr Saxby’s agents John Phillips Planning Consultancy, said: “The work is taking place at the moment and we hope it will be completed soon.”

Oxford City Council first gave the developer planning permission for the scheme in 2009.

And residents hope another planning application from the developer, this time to alter the roof design, will not delay the renovation.

Nuala Young, city councillor for St Clement’s, said: “It is worrying to see that building, which could be very lovely, left empty and looking very derelict. It is bad for the area.”

The pub, which was popular with the Irish community, was an old coaching inn dating back to 1774.

Shopkeepers and landlords in the area are currently battling plans to build student accommodation on the car park behind St Clement’s.

Ms Young added: “This is an important aspect of coming into Oxford by coach.

“It is a historic entrance into Oxford and it really should be looked after properly and used properly.

Some of the plans have been quite good and they should just go ahead and stop tinkering with the application.

“I am really keen to see it coming into use. It is vacant at the moment and the windows are left open and it is inviting squatters.”

Bob Hughes, of Boulter Street, added: “We cannot afford to have perfectly good property in the hands of people who just play around with it.”

However, the 64-year-old said it was important the character of the pub was retained.

He added: “I would not mind it being affordable housing, I would not mind if it being converted into bedsits, as long as it was in line with the original building.”

Matt Bullock, vice chairman of the Oxford branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: “It has been shut for so long now that the priority should be to do something with the building.

“Everyone who lives nearby would be grateful to see something done with it. It could do with smartening up.”

Oxford City Council aims to make a decision on the application by July 8.