THE demolition of an “unviable” Poole pub to make way for a block of dozens of flats is in line to be approved next week.

BCP Council’s planning committee will be asked to green light plans for The Sloop when they meet on Thursday, despite concerns about the loss of the building.

But the pub’s former owner, Hall and Woodhouse, said the pub had been unprofitable “for many years”, prompting the decision for it to be sold to AJ Developments.

The firm submitted its planning application for the Commercial Road site last year, following the withdrawal of an earlier, more ambitious scheme.

Its plans would see the existing pub site cleared to make way for a block of 72 flats – most of which would be one-bedroom.

Nine would be made available for “discounted market sales”.

“The scheme is in a highly sustainable transport corridor in a form, layout and design that would preserve the residential character and appearance of the area and the amenities of neighbours, whilst supporting local shops and services,” it said.

But the application drew opposition from The Society for Poole which said the proposal “fails to respect the character of the long-established public house”.

These concerns have been echoed by the Council for British Archaeology which has written in objection to the scheme.

And it has been called in for consideration by the planning committee by councillor Steve Baron because of the “significant history” of the pub building.

Despite this, committee members will be asked to approve the scheme when they discuss it on Thursday (November 5).

In her report published ahead of the meeting, planning officer Kate Robson said the block of flats would make “efficient use of a brownfield site”.

“It is considered that the strong design of the proposed building in conjunction with the provision of 72 additional dwellings in this highly sustainable location are sufficient to outweigh the harm resulting from the total loss of the locally listed building,” it says.

It adds that the provision of nine "discounted" flats would overcome the negative effect of the loss of the pub.