THE owner of the White Horse pub has confirmed that there are ‘no concrete plans’ to turn the property into office space.

A planning application submitted on February 28 detailed how the Progressive Pub Company sought to change the use of the ground floor to create office space, while retaining the first floor residential accommodation.

This led to a flurry of negative comments online, with residents expressing their frustration about the decline of pub culture in the area.

The owner told the Guardian that the application is merely to make the property more enticing to potential buyers, and it would not be in his company’s interest to turn the historic building into office space.

Matthew Evans, owner of the White Horse, said: “It could be changed if someone wanted to, but this is simply to make it as saleable as possible.

“From our point of view, we would not want be involved in spending money on the idea.

“It will continue to run as normal.”

Town councillor David Latham expressed his concern over the potential sale and renovation of the asset.

Cllr Latham said: “If they go for a change of use the White Horse is dead.

“There is simply not enough space to accommodate the new offices in the town.”

The White Horse has been serving Middlewich people for 250 years, and in the past has served various groups such as The Order of the Druids and the Loyal Order of the Ancient Shepherds.