A Grade II-listed traditional pub in Eaton has submitted plans to provide additional dining area to remain "economically viable" amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Plough Inn, a listed Grade II building, on Macclesfield Road, Eaton, has submitted plans for a single-storey glazed extension to provide additional dining capacity.

To maintain the public house as "economically viable", in a time of "increased economic pressure" due to social distancing and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Plough Inn feel additional floor space is required for guest dining.

The pub believes an extension within the existing beer garden would be "best suited" to provide this additional space, which would cause the "least disruption" to the running of the pub and impact on the "historic fabric" of the building.

From the dining room at present, there are no views of the garden or "historic fabric" of the building.

The plans are to make use of the semi-courtyard for a simple design that would essentially be a flat glazed cover link, set off the existing walls and a central "courtyard" flat leaded and glass roof, set at a slightly higher level than the glazed link, to provide a covering to the proposed dining area.

The glazed connection is to two bays: the south elevation of the original block at the intersection of the timber sole plate framing and the east elevation of the western modern wing.

The proposal would mean the restaurant projects into the garden area and is "absorbed" by it, allowing for the relationship between inside and outside to be "blurred" and, so too, the tables serving diners.

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The glass doors would "slide away" to allow guests to enjoy and experience an "alfresco dining experience", protected by the overhanging roof.

A heritage assessment, which was submitted as part of the plans to Cheshire East Council, stated: "The Plough Inn has a value in conservation terms beyond that based on the significance of its built fabric.

"It has a high cultural heritage significance for the role it has held and continues to play in the life of a community that has evidenced itself as thriving and engaged.

"Preserving the prime function of the building, as an inn and as a gathering space for the community, is a valid conservation outcome.

"To maintain this role, the inn must remain economically viable. There is therefore a strong argument to the proposed structures build, as being necessary to support survival in a time of increased economic pressure due to social distancing and the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The proposals will be executed to an exemplary standard, appearing as lightweight as possible and have a sympathetic interface with the old building using a predominantly transparent construction, which will take the dining experience into the garden for the first time, whilst allowing diners an unrestricted view of the external fabric of the Grade II listed building."

Residents have until 10 February to submit their comments on the application which can be viewed here.

Cheshire East has set 1 March as the decision target date for the application.