A DECISION on converting a historic farmhouse in a “dangerous state of disrepair” into new flats will be made this week.

Willow Court Farmhouse in the Westlands estate in Droitwich has been empty for three decades and now work to convert the derelict building into new flats is set to be discussed by councillors.

The grade II listed building off Westwood Road was last used as flats in the early 1990s and had been left to rot.

The Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust received more than a quarter of a million pounds in lottery funding in 2020 to help secure the building and pay for its restoration.

The trust is working with Wychavon District Council and Platform Housing on bringing the building back to life and converting it into affordable housing.

The move for planning permission to convert the grade II listed building will be discussed by Wychavon District Council’s planning committee at a meeting in Pershore on Thursday (October 12).

A decision will be made by councillors because the district council owns the building and has agreed to partly fund the work – with the National Lottery Heritage Fund also footing the bill.

The council’s planning officers have recommended the work should be given the green light.

In a supportive report, the council’s planners said the application would help reduce the deficit in the district’s housing supply and bring an historic but empty building back into use.

Willow Court Farm was historically known as Boycott Farm and the name first appeared in documents in the mid-15th century.

A farmhouse was believed to have been built on the land in the 16th century and extended several times up until the 18th century when a new large brick extension was added. A timber frame and chimney stack still survive from the late 16th century.

The current layout of the building was created in the 1970s and it was last used as flats in the early 90s.

The council already gave permission to demolish several extensions that were built in the 70s and these will be replaced with new extensions of a similar size.

The land is classed as flood zones two and three by the Environment Agency which means it has a high risk of flooding.

The planning committee meets from 2pm on October 12.