A PROPOSAL to turn a New Forest pub into two houses has fuelled fears that the Grade II-listed watering hole will never reopen.

Wareham-based Stoneriver Projects has applied for planning permission to convert the White Horse Inn, which is situated in a conservation area at Milford on Sea.

It was built in the late 18th century and extended over the following 200 years but has been vacant since August 2018.

Stoneriver is seeking consent to convert the pub into a pair of three-bedroom homes and construct three detached properties behind the building.

One villager said: "Sadly it looks like the pub is lost."

Another added: "It's been empty for three years and I can't see it reopening, especially if someone wants to turn it into two houses."

Stoneriver's application says: "The scheme has been carefully conceived to respect the historic form and fabric of the listed building, preserve the character of the conservation area and provide residential accommodation in a sustainable location.

"The proposals involve the demolition of a number of flat-roofed rear extensions. These are sizeable and seriously detract from the listed building, its setting and appearance."

The application says the White Horse has been in decline for many years.

It cites the pub's isolation from the commercial centre of the village, its listed building status and the need for major investment "to restore any resemblance of its former appearance".

"The continued use as a public house is not realistic – particularly in an era where such pubs are closing across the country.

"The application is accompanied by a viability report explaining that the public house is commercially unviable, and a separate marketing report.

"The property was marketed from July 2018 to September 2019 (approximately 14 months) with no interest from operators looking to maintain it as a going concern, nor operators looking at alternative commercial or community uses."

Stoneriver's application comes after years of controversy over how many homes should be built of an adjoining site.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Bayview Developments has lodged an appeal after again being refused permission to provide four homes behind the White Horse.

Its initial proposal was rejected by New Forest District Council in July 2019 after sparking a flurry of objections.

A few months later the authority approved plans for three homes behind the pub, but Bayview submitted another proposal for four properties.