PLANS to build homes on the site of a historic pub have been ditched.

Developers had applied to Cheshire West and Chester Council to build three five-bedroom homes on the car park of the Holly Bush Inn in Little Leigh.

Campaigners fighting to save the 400-year-old pub said the plans, which also meant the destruction of an ancient orchard, would kill off their hopes to be successful.

The application was made by Rob Jones on behalf of RJ Design (NW) Ltd but that has now been withdrawn, much to the delight of campaigners.

However, they urged some caution and said it won’t mean any future development plans for the site wouldn’t be proposed.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “We always knew that planning would not be happy for all the same reasons that many comments outlined.

“Having it withdrawn makes it easier for all, but I am sure we will see another back in some format as the owner only wants to increase the land value so that he can make more from his purchase of a year ago.

“Please continue to support us, it is not going to be a quick fix.

“The owner is still talking to us about the community purchasing the pub, but we want the car park and rest of the site as well.

“The barn owner wants to sell it to us but we can't buy until we get the pub and car park.”