A pub that has been serving the people of Borehamwood for more than 100 years could be bulldozed to make way for homes and shops.

Woodhall Land has applied to Hertsmere Borough Council for planning permission to demolish The Crown Pub in Shenley Road, Borehamwood, which dates from 1908.

A four-storey building will be built in its place, which will have commercial space on the ground floor and 11 two-bedroom flats above.

The company proposes to refurbish the coach house and transform it into two two-bedroom houses at the back of the site where the coach house currently stands.

A car park with 15 spaces and 12 bicycle spaces will be built and access routes will be changed.

Developers believe the entire site could house around 50 people.

The pub, which closed down in March last year, was listed as an asset of community value in August last year.

However Woodhall Land appealed the listing, and it was withdrawn in January this year, leaving the site open for redevelopment.

In the application, Woodhall stated the existing public house had failed as an “economically viable going concern” having been shut for more than a year.

It hopes to replace the pub with a contemporary “gateway” development at the junction.

Steve Bury, who ran the 'Save the Crown' group, which secured the original listing, said it was shame the pub was going to be knocked down.

He said: "Despite what developers said, the pub was a perfectly good business before it shut down, and there is no reason why it should not be again. 

"This should be a commercial site and is not suitable for housing at all. There are no other houses in the neighbourhood and the area is far too busy and noisy for people to live in."