A PUB will be demolished and turned into 17 affordable homes after a planning application was approved.

Castle Point Council’s development control committee has given the go ahead to the redevelopment plans for the Lighthouse pub, London Road, Benfleet.

The pub will be knocked down and replaced by a three-storey building containing six one-bedroom flats and 11 two-bedroom flats.

The flats will all be for affordable rent, with the council able to use some of the homes for people on the borough’s housing waiting list.

Norman Smith, Castle Point councillor responsible for housing, said: “It’s really good news for the borough.

“Hopefully, this will allow us to get more people off the housing waiting list and into good quality homes.”

The council has more than 1,000 people on its housing register waiting for affordable homes.

The building will be developed by Chelmsford-based developer Rockrose with housing association Chelmer Housing Partnership.

The plans show the flats will be built a similar style to the blocks of flats which line the northern side of London Road at Tarpots.