PLANS have been put forward to demolish a much-loved community pub - and replace it with another bigger and better pub.

Applicant Westbourne Leisure, which owns the Irish Centre that was based in Birmingham City Centre but is now going to be in Kings Heath, want to demolish The Cross & Bowling Green in Beoley and replace it with a bigger and better pub with 35 rooms for bed and breakfast.

The pub, used more recently as an Indian restaurant, has been described as "outdated and in poor condition" and "not fit for purpose".

Plans would see it completely torn down and rebuilt.

The proposed replacement building would sit mostly within the established footprint of the current pub.

The rebuilt development would provide facilities for disabled individuals, including the provision of a disabled bedroom and associated facilities.

The ground floor would see 12 en-suite guest bedrooms while the first floor of the development would provide 23 en-suite bedrooms at a range of sizes.

The central portion of the ground floor development would see a larger bar area than the original building, with a restaurant to provide for 36 diners.

Roof tiles from the existing pub would be re-used on the main building where possible and it would be made of rustic brickwork.

The car parking would be for 55 cars.

A supporting statement for the application said: "Through the demolition and rebuilding of this development, the creation of a more accessible and inclusive environment suited to modern standards will be facilitated.

It added the new pub will enable The Cross and Bowling Green to be retained as a "community asset" into the future.