Plans approved for homes on site of fire-hit pub

Crowds gathered to watch as the Admiral Jellicoe pub burned down in July 2019

More homes are set to be built on the site of a former pub that burnt down.

Plans for seven properties at the old Admiral Jellicoe pub on Canvey Island, Essex, have been approved by Castle Point Borough Council.

The derelict high street building suffered extensive damage when flames ripped through it in July 2019.

Blueprints of the plans show six three-bedroom houses, one three-bed property and 14 parking spaces.

They join eight houses already built on the land. Anglian Water is also due to install a pumping station there.

Large crowds gathered to watch as seven crews tackled the blaze in 2019.

Firefighters said at one stage "100% of the roof and much of the first floor" was on fire and that it was known to have squatters.

The plans, submitted by AJ Bush Ltd, showed what the houses could look like

AJ Bush Ltd said in its planning application the new houses would replace an area that had been "100% concrete" since the fire.

"This proposal will provide residential accommodation, which is much needed to reduce housing shortages, as indicated in the draft local plan," the plans read.

Residents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they were pleased something was being done at the empty site.

Hannah Smith, 41, said: "It's been vacant for years now and it sounds like this will help make it look smarter and tidy it up a bit.

"I also think it will help the wider area, look and feel of that part of Canvey."