Plans have been revealed for a closed-down 17th century village pub near Lancaster to be converted into a Co-Op store.
A change of use planning application has gone in to Lancaster City Council for the former Ship Inn at Caton, which has been shut since 2025.
There are plans to move the nearby Co-Op on Hornby Road into the former pub.
A statement submitted with the plans on behalf of applicants Thistlewood Properties said "the popularity of the pub and its value to the community has reduced over recent years".
It also says "the existing store is well established but occupies a constrained and ageing building".
The application is for "change of use from a public house into a convenience store, demolition of existing extension and erection of single storey side and rear extensions".
"The proposed development will provide a purpose-built convenience store intended to accommodate the relocation of the existing Co-op store currently operating from Hornby Road, approximately 125 metres to the east of the application site," said the statement.
"The public house has been closed since March 2025 and has remained untenanted since that time.
"The pub will be partially demolished at the rear and will be extended to the side and rear in order to accommodate the retail use."
The Ship at Caton
The statement says the current Co-Op store building is "not suitable for a modern retail operation, staff facilities are poor, with little provision for disabled colleagues and there are inadequate storage areas and supporting structures block parts of the sales and storage areas".
"The development of a modern new Co-op store would cater for local needs and would positively enhance the vitality and viability of the Local Centre, along with the opportunity for new retail/other businesses of an appropriate scale in the existing Co-op store, once vacated."
It says the existing Ship Inn building has been in use as a pub dating back to the 19th century - but the pub itself is said to date from around 1610.
It was previously operated by Thwaites brewery but closed in March 2025.
"It is apparent that the popularity of the pub and its value to the community has reduced over recent years," said the statement.
"As a matter of course, Thwaites - an experienced operator with a portfolio of over 270 pubs, had already reviewed the scope for an alternative trading format with the introduction of a food-oriented offer, as featured elsewhere in their estate.
"The property had been marketed to prospective tenants unsuccessfully for around 12 months at a rent of £10,000 per annum.
"The company had also considered a sale to another brewery, pub company or private party to maintain the existing use, however met no interest from other operators. Having been approached by the current applicants, they have agreed to dispose of the asset altogether for an alternative use.
"It is evident that the Ship Inn no longer retains an economic value, as a viable operation could not be maintained by one of the country’s best known breweries and pub operators, despite attempts to do so.
"The lack of use by the community indicates that it was clearly not meeting a popular or necessary social value.
"It is also apparent that there has been no objection to the loss of the pub from the local community – as is often found in both rural and urban areas.
"It is clear therefore that the public house facility is no longer wanted or needed.
"Notwithstanding this, the application proposes the replacement of the public house with the relocation of a local convenience store which will more readily meet the needs of the local community."
The application says the nearby Grade II listed 'Fish Stones' stone steps would not be affected by the development.
The full plans are available to view in the planning section of the Lancaster City Council website - reference 26/00992/FUL.
The council will make a decision on whether to grant planning permission, in due course.
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