A FORMER public house that has been dubbed an "eyesore" by residents could be bulldozed and turned into two businesses.

The Colliers Arms, located in Water Street, Radcliffe, has stood part-demolished for seven months.

In July last year, Bury Council issued a notice to the owners, ordering them to pull down the building after it was deemed "extremely dangerous and in a dilapidated condition."

However, the building was only partly demolished.

In a planning application, Saghir Hussain, director at Create It Studio Architects, said on behalf of the owners: "Due to issues with the demolition contractor, delays with the works has meant that the demolition is still incomplete."

The first floor of the former pub has been pulled down but the ground floor and cellar remain in a "crumbling state".

Youths were reported to have entered the site.

Dorothy Grundy, aged 66 of Wallwork Street, has lived next door to the pub since the 1970s.

She previously told the Radcliffe Times: “It is an absolute eyesore. It looked better before the demolition began. I feel most sorry for the people who have to look at it all the time.

"There are danger notices but I do not consider it safe. I have heard kids going in."

Applicant Mohamed Turqeer has submitted plans seeking retrospective permission for the demolition of the building, and for a new two-storey building comprising two hot food takeaway units at ground level and two self-contained apartments on the first floor.

The application suggests that two members of staff could be employed at the site, with the businesses operating between 9am and 11pm weekdays and weekends.

Mr Hussain said in the application: “The property was previously used as a public house. The building had experienced fire damage. It had been redundant and vacant for some time."

The Colliers Arms was originally an ale house and did not begin selling liquor until after the First World War. It closed permanently as a public house about 10 years ago.

Mr Hussain added: "The proposal is to erect a new building in place of the existing structure similar in size, massing, footprint and materials.

"The ground floor would be used for two takeaways and extract flues to the rear of the property. The first floor is proposed to be used as two apartments, with access from the side."

To view the plans, search application number 63708 at https://planning.bury.gov.uk/online-applications.