A historic town centre tavern closed in the midst of the pandemic is to be turned into flats after approval by Oldham Council.

The Hare and Hounds was boarded up last year, before the plans to convert it were submitted to the council around three months ago.

These plans propose to turn the tavern on Yorkshire Street, which sits in the Oldham Town Centre Conservation Area, into a total of eight one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments.

After a consultation received no comments from residents, the council approved the conversion last week.

The decision reads: "The proposed development complies with the Local Development Framework which would improve and maintain the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.

"It therefore comprises sustainable development."

Although the current construction dates back to the late 1800s, a pub of the same name is recorded on the same site in the early 1800s.

In the 1860s, a group of photographers met at this pub and started the Oldham Photographic Society, which according to its website is one of the earliest photographic societies in the world and is still in action some 155 years later.

The current construction is not listed, but neighbours NatWest and Odeon are in Grade-II listed buildings.

The application acknowledges the pub's history but argues the impact of its loss is limited due to limited external alterations and a number of public benefits.

The application reads: "On the basis of our appraisal, we believe that the application proposal should be supported not least because there are a series of obvious public benefits to the scheme which should would weigh in its favour.

"[These include] the delivery of a range of new accommodation within a presently vacant building; increased footfall within the Conservation Area; and creation of employment during construction."

The Hare and Hounds sits on the border between the constituencies of Oldham East and Saddleworth and Oldham West and Royton, and the MP for the latter is outspoken on the protection of pubs.

In a post last year, which mentioned the Hare and Hounds, Jim McMahon stressed the importance of pubs as places for communities to come together.

The Oldham Times asked Mr McMahon for a comment.