A GRADE II listed building in Ingatestone that has sat vacant for a year is now set to be converted into five apartments.

Peerage House, at the junction with Stock Road in the High Street, was built in the 17th century and over the years has been a house, a pub and a hotel, before more recently, a solicitor’s office.

But now, after becoming vacant in early 2014, five apartments are set to grace its interior after planning permission was granted on February 3.

Planning documents, submitted by Paul Hutley, say one one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments will be built in the building, some facing the High Street and others having views towards Stock. A section of the chimney will also be removed as a part of the works.

Some apartments will be accessed from a High Street entrance and others from a door in the car parking area, which will also be provided.

The document read: “The car park will be carefully laid out, marked and resurfaced, with proper drainage with five car parking spaces, one for each of the units.

“There was also space for the stationing of bicycles, motorbikes and bins.

“The front wall along the roadside boundary was to be lowered slightly to improve visibility when exiting the site.”

A planning application submitted last summer for the same work, with the additional building of a cottage in the car park, was refused on the grounds of causing problems for a neighbour.

But now, with approval granted, residents appear to be welcoming the development.

Parish councillor and chair of Ingatestone and Fryerning Parish Council’s Planning Committee, Councillor David Abrey, said: “I think it’s an excellent idea.

“It is Grade II listed and it has been empty now for quite some considerable while.

“There will be improvements made to the external appearance to the building and I think on balance it would help to protect it. It will only fall into a bit of disrepair as it is left at the moment.

“And as a parish council we did not object to it being converted into flats.

“The appearance of the building I’m hoping will look better than it does today.

It’s part of the development that takes place in any village.”

Resident Robert Fletcher, who lives in Cherry Trees, said that he had “no issue” with the conversion.

But he did question whether a footpath needed to be installed between the junction with the High Street, as he claimed drivers speed there due to its wide junction.

He said: “We have got people coming out of there going down to the High Street.

“On the other side of the road you have got a tapered pavement.

“I do not know why they should not do the same thing on the other side of the road – it would make it safer.”